"I can't say as to that. I've never had no speech with them and they don't take no notice of me. Sometimes I recognise the creatures as people that lived in my time and memory; sometimes I do not. Only last week I see old Noah Parsons hanging over New Bridge, just as he did in life times without count, looking down over to see if there was any fish moving. An old poacher he was--till he got too feeble to do anything but right." "And mother seed Lazarus Coomstock in Holne Wood not a month after he was teeled*--didn't you, mother?" asked Jane. * _Teeled_--buried. "I did," answered Mrs. Bamsey. "I saw him outside his own house on the day of the sale, with live neighbours at his elbows--for all the world as though he'd come with the rest to bid for the things." "A terrible queer gift," said Maynard. "Have you handed it on to Miss Jane here, I wonder?" "No," declared Jane. "I've never seen a ghost ana never want to." "You be young yet. Perhaps when you get up to years of discretion you'll see 'em." "When Jane gets up to years of discretion, I'll give a party," laughed Ben; but Jane did not laugh. "You always think I'm a fool, father; and you'll always be wrong," she snapped. Then she got up and left the room. "You didn't ought to poke fun at her," said Faith. "You know she don't like being thought a child--least of all by you." "If you make jokes, you must take 'em," said Ben. "Jane's got a very sharp tongue for her age and nobody doubts her wits; but if a father can't make a laugh at the expense of his child--no, no--we mustn't truckle under to Jane. Mayhap a good ghostey will teach her sense some day." "She's that wishful to please you always," murmured Jane's mother. "Well, well, she can do most things she sets her mind to. I ban't a man very difficult to please." Lawrence struck in again. He had ignored these passages, and was still considering Mrs. Bamsey's alleged second sight. "Would you say that John has got your gift, ma'am?" he asked "Time will show," replied Faith. "He's a godly, plain-dealer is John, but I've never heard him say he's seen one." "I hope he won't," said Dinah. "Because, in his business as water-keeper, and looking out against trespassers and such-like, it might confuse him and waste his time a lot, if he was to see shadow people about by the river and think them poaching." Her foster-father exploded at the absurdity of the idea; but neither Lawrence nor Faith Bamsey saw anything amusing in it. Then Ben grew serious and set down his old dog, which had returned to his lap after tea was ended. "There's church bell," he said, "and us be going. Have you worshipped at our church yet, Maynard?" The thin tinkle of bell music fell from the wooded height above Green Hayes. "No," said Lawrence. "I have not. I don't go to church." Ben shrank, and his wife started and tightened her lips. "Ban't you a Christian then?"