"My young lady's complemens, sir, and will you excuse her coming down again to-night? she is not equal to seeing nobody. And she says truth, poor child," added Hatch, "for she's quite done over." "How is your mistress now, Hatch?" "Oh, she's better, she is. Her nerves have been shook, sir, of late, you know, through the shock of master's unexpected death, and in course she starts at shadders. I won't leave the room again, without the gas a-burning full on." "What is this tale about Mr. Brightman?" Hatch and her streamers swung round, and she closed the door before answering. "Miss Annabel never told you _that_; did she, sir?" "No; but I have heard a word or two elsewhere. You fancy you saw a ghost?" "Missis do." "Oh, I thought you did also." "I just believe it's a delusion of hers, Mr. Charles, and nothing more," returned Hatch confidently. "If master had been a bad sort of character, or had taken his own life, or anything of that, why, the likelihood is that he might have walked, dying sudden. But being what he was, a Christian gentleman that never missed church, and said his own prayers at home on his knees regular--which I see him a doing of once, when I went bolt into his dressing-room, not beknowing he was in it--why, it is not likely, sir, that he comes again. I don't say as much to them downstairs; better let them be frightened at his ghost than at--at--anybody else's. I wish it was master's ghost, and nothing worse," abruptly concluded Hatch. "Nothing worse! Some of you would think that bad enough, were it possible for it to appear." "Yes, sir, ghosts is bad enough, no doubt. But realities is worse." So it was of no use waiting. I finished my cup of cold tea, and turned to go, telling Hatch that I would come again the following evening to see how things were progressing. "Yes, do, Mr. Charles; you had better," assented Hatch, who had a habit, not arising from want of respect, but from her long and confidential services, and the plenitude of her attachment, of identifying herself with the family in the most unceremonious manner. "Miss Annabel's life hasn't been a bed of roses since this ghost appeared, and I fear it is not likely to be, and if there's anybody that can say a word to comfort her, it must be you, sir; for in course I've not had my eyes quite blinded. Eyes is eyes, sir, and has their sight in 'em, and we can't always shut 'em, if we would." Hatch was crossing the hall to open the door for me, and I had taken my great-coat from the stand, when Annabel flew down the stairs, her face white, her voice sharp with terror. "Hatch! Hatch! mamma is frightened again!" Hatch ran up, two stairs at a time, and I went after her. Mrs. Brightman had followed Annabel, and now stood outside her chamber-door in her white dressing-gown, trembling violently. "He is watching me again," she panted: "he stands there in his grave-clothes!"