On that very account, however, he reflected that such an intrusion might
be attended with more danger than that to be apprehended from a ghost.
He consequently paused for some time before he could decide on following
up such a perilous resolution. While he thus stood deliberating upon
the prudence of this daring exploit, he heard a variety of noises, and
knockings, and rollings, as if of empty barrels, and rattling of chains,
all going on inside, whilst the house itself appeared to be dark and
still, without smoke from the chimneys, or light in the windows, or any
other symptom of being inhabited, unless by those who were producing the
wild and extraordinary noises he then heard.

"If I do not see this out," said he, "my account of it will go to add
another page to the great volume of superstition. I am armed, not a whit
afraid, and I will see it out, if human enterprise can effect it."

He immediately entered the door, which he found, somewhat to his
surprise, was only laid to, and, after listening for a few moments,
resolved to examine the premises closely. In deference to the reader,
whose nerves may not be so strong as those of Henry Woodward, and who
consequently may entertain a very decided objection to enter a haunted
house, especially one in such a lonely and remote situation, we will
only say that he remained in it for at least an hour and a half; at
the expiration of which time he left it, walked home in a silent and
meditative mood, spoke little to his family, who were a good deal
surprised at his abstracted manner, and, after sipping a tumbler of
punch with his step-father, went rather gloomily to bed.

The next morning at breakfast he looked a good deal paler than they had
yet seen him, and for some time his contribution to the family dialogue
was rather scanty.