Charles you are my most intimate friend; and therefore, I may open my
heart to you, and tell you honestly, (but mind, not a word to the other
boys, when we get back to school) that my heart began to fail me; I
know it ought not, for I had been taught better things, and should not
have suffered myself to have been influenced, by an ignorant old
woman.

There was a bedstead left in one of the rooms, put up by a gentleman
who had nearly bought the place, and who, hearing such dreadful
stories, determined to try and pass a night there, ere he finally
closed:--but people said he heard such strange noises, and saw such
odd sights, that he ran away and never returned; the bed and bedding
had, the country people believed, all vanished at the bidding of the
ghost; indeed, some scrupled not to say, that he had himself been
spirited away. Papa said when _he_ heard it, that most likely he was
ashamed of his cowardice, and that this prevented his going again to
the village.

Papa sent for Mr. Davis, or Griffy Davis, as his wife was pleased to
call him; but the old body herself came, and entreated of papa not to
try and entice him to accompany us; for it seems that papa's cool and
determined manner had made a great impression on Griffy, who, perhaps,
got more sceptical on these matters, on account of it. Mrs. Davis was
so importunate on the subject, that she obtained the desired
assurance, viz., that Griffeth Davis should not be directly or
indirectly tempted to encounter the ghost or ghosts, as the case might
be. The old man soon came, and you would have laughed to see the old
dame's rubicond face, with her large grey eyes, peering over his
shoulder; for, notwithstanding; the promise given, she had some doubts