Chapter IV.
THE GHOST SEEN BY "TATERS."
He shuddered, as no doubt the bravest cowers,
When he can't tell what 'tis that doth appall.
How odd a single hobgoblin's nonentity
Should cause more fear than a whole host's identity.
—Byron.
"Emma, dear, I have a letter from Uncle John Lytton," said Laura, gravely, going to the side of her friend.
"I hope they are all well at Lytton Lodge," responded Emma.
"Oh, yes, thank you, they are all quite well; but," added Laura, with a sigh, "Uncle John has written to me to come at once and pay them a visit. And to leave me no excuse, he has sent his servant Mithridates on horseback, with another led horse and side-saddle, to take me to Lytton Lodge."
"Oh, dear! But you need not go, I hope?" said Emma, looking up, with a sigh.
"I must go," answered Laura, with another sigh. "And really I ought to be glad to go to see such kind friends as all my relatives there have been to me. But, you see, Emma, I don't like to leave you for a single day even before I have to return to school."