"So the story goes, sir," he said, curtly. "And many's the time I've known that candlestick to be moved during the night, by no mortal hand." "Look here, Uncle Gif," said Braye, good-naturedly, "you don't want to get yourself disliked, do you? Now, let up on your quizzing, and let's get down to business. We set out for a haunted house. I, for one, think we've got all we came after, and then some! If the ha'nt began moving her candlestick around the first night, what may she not do next? You didn't do it, did you, Uncle?" "I've told you I didn't, Rudolph, and I again repeat my word. But it was scarcely necessary for me to do it, when such a capable spook,--I mean, phantasm is regularly in attendance." "Now, I've told you the tale," and Stebbins rose, and shook himself as if he had done his duty. "I ain't nowise responsible for your believin' it. What I've told you is true, so far's my own experience goes; and what I've told you hearsay, is the old story that's been told up in these parts by one generation after another, since old Montgomery's day. Now do you want to see the room with the tassels?" "I don't!" cried Milly, "I can't stand any more." "You needn't, dear," said Landon; "suppose you go out on the terrace and walk about in the sunlight. You go with her, Vernie, you can see the room, later on." "I'll go too," and Tracy tactfully offered his escort. "The tassels will keep. Come on, Braye?" "No; I'll see the show through. You can look after the ladies, Tracy." So the others crowded round Stebbins, as he prepared to unlock the door of the fatal room. "'Tain't no great sight," he said, almost apologetically. "But it's the ha'nted room." Slowly he turned the key and they all filed in. The room was dark, save for what light came in from the hall. All blinds were closed, and over the windows hung heavy curtains of rep that had once been red but was now a dull, nondescript colour. There were more of these heavy, long curtains, evidently concealing alcoves or cupboards, and over each curtain was a "lambrequin" edged with thick twisted woolen fringe, and at intervals, tassels,--enormous, weighty tassels, such as were once used in church pulpits and other old-fashioned upholstery. Such quantities of these there were, that it is small wonder the room received its name. And the tassels had a sinister air. Motionless they hung, dingy, faded, but still of an individuality that seemed to say, "we have seen unholy deed,--we cry out mutely for vengeance!" "It was them tassels that scared me most," Stebbins said, in an awed tone. "I mean before--_she_ come. They sort of swayed,--when they wasn't no draught nor anything." "I don't wonder!" said Braye, "they're the ghostliest things I ever saw! But the whole room is awful! It--oh I say! put up a window!" "I can't," said Stebbins simply. "These here windows ain't been up for years and years. The springs is all rusted and won't work."