Not possessing either the capability or the inclination to test Mary’s fidelity by the means she alluded to, and finding her determination unalterable, I gave her the desired permission to depart; only making it a stipulation that she should not tell her mistress the real reason for her leaving us, but ascribe it to bad news from home, or any other cause. But though I could not but believe that the woman’s idiotic terrors had blinded her judgment, I was extremely surprised to find she should have been so led astray, as I had always considered Mary to possess a remarkably clear head and good moral sense. The wailing and lamentation, from both mother and children, at the announcement of her departure made me still more angry with her obstinacy and folly. But she continued resolute; and we were driven to try and secure some one to fulfil her duties from the neighbouring town. But here a strange difficulty met us. We saw several fresh, rosy-cheeked maidens, who appeared quite willing to undertake our service, until they heard where we resided, when by an extraordinary coincidence, one and all discovered that some insurmountable obstacle prevented their coming at all. When the same thing had occurred several times in succession, and Jane appeared worn out with disappointment and fatigue, the landlord of the inn where we had put up for the day appeared at the door, and beckoned me out. “May I make bold enough to ask if you want a servant to go to Rushmere?” he inquired of me in a whisper. “Certainly, we do. Our nurse has been obliged to leave us suddenly, and we want some one to supply her place.” “Then you may give it up as a bad job, sir; for you’ll never get one of the country people here about to set a foot in Rushmere--not if you were to live there till the day of your death.” “And why not?” I demanded, with affected ignorance. “What, haven’t you heard nothing since you’ve been there, sir?” “Heard? What should I have heard, except the ordinary noises of the household?” “Well, you’re lucky if you’ve escaped so far,” returned the landlord, mysteriously; “but it ain’t for long. No one who lives in Rushmere lives there _alone_. I can tell you the whole story if you like?” “I have no desire to listen to any such folly,” I replied, testily. “I am not superstitious, and do not believe in supernatural sights or sounds. If the people round about here are foolish enough to do so, I cannot help it; but I will not have the minds of my wife or family imbued with their nonsense.” “Very good, sir; I hope you may be able to say as much two months hence,” said the man, civilly. And so we parted.