So after all the greeting was done, _Ned_ sat down next to _Mother_: but we gat no further a-loving of our loves that night, for all wanted to hear _Ned_, that is but now come back from the _Spanish_ seas: and divers tales he told that were rare taking, and one or twain that did make my flesh creep: but truly his sea-talk is rare hard to conceive. When all at once saith _Ned_:-- "Have you a ghost cruising these parts?" "Eh, _Ned_, hast thou seen her?" cries _Austin Park_. "Who's her?" saith _Ned_. "I've seen a craft with a white hull and all sails up, in the copse nigh old _Nanny's_." "Couldst thou make it thy conveniency to speak _English, Ned_?" saith _Father_. "That is the language we talk in _Derwentdale_." _Ned_ laughed, and saith, "I'll endeavour myself; but 'tis none so easy to drop it. Well, who or what is it?" "'Tis a ghost," saith _Austin_; "and folks laughed at me when I said I had seen it: may-be they'll give o'er now." "Why didst not send a buck-shot through her?" quoth _Ned_. "Good lack! I had no arms," saith _Austin_: "and what good should come o' shooting a ghost?" "Make you first sure she is a ghost," saith _Father_: "for it should be right little good that should come of shooting a woman." This was all said that night; and we brake up at nine o' the clock, and away hied our guests. But yestereven, as I was a-crossing of the hall, just after the dusk fell, what should I see but Aunt _Joyce_, clad in hood, cloak, and pattens, drawing back of the bolt from the garden door: and I ran to help her. "Why, Aunt _Joyce_, whither go you so late?" said I. "But may-be I do ill to ask." "Nay, thou dost not so, child," saith she: "and I will take thee into my secret, for I can trust thee. _Nell_, I am going to see the ghost." "Aunt _Joyce_," was all I could utter. "Ay," saith she, "I will: for my mind misgives me that this is no ghost, but a living woman: and a woman that it should be well had an other woman to speak unto her. Be not afeared, dear heart; I am not running afore I am sent. It was said to me last night, `Go in this thy might.' And when the Lord sends men on His errands, He pays the charges." "But if you should be hurt, _Aunt_!" cried I. "Well, what so?" saith she. "He were a poor soldier that were afeared to be hurt in his King's battles. But if it be as I think, _Nell_, there is no fear thereof. And if there were, mine ease is of less moment than a sinner's soul. Nay, dear maid, take thine heart to thee [cheer up]. There is more with me than all the constables in _Cumberland_. `Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did He,--in heaven, and in the earth, and in the seas, and in all deep places.' I am not afeared, _Nell_." And away trudged she, without an other word. But I sat on thorns till, about seven o' the clock, she came into the great chamber, her hood and cloak doffed. "Why, _Joyce_, I had lost thee," saith _Mother_, looking up brightly from her sewing.