"Do phantoms haunt this place?" whispered Dan, as they ascended the wide staircase. "I can well imagine lords and ladies in silks and satins and powdered hair and slender canes coming out in the darkness."
"I never saw any of them," replied Meg, in a matter-of-fact tone; "and I have been all over the house at midnight. Surely you don't believe in ghosts!"
"No. But I could forgive any one who did while dwelling in this house."
"It is rather dreary," said Meg, casting a careless look around. "I wonder Lord Ardleigh doesn't pull the place down. But I don't suppose he knows he possesses the mansion."
"Why not?"
"Because he would not neglect it so much if he did. Why doesn't he come down and stay here, and see what he can do to help the weavers of Farbis? He is very wealthy, you know."
"Is he, indeed?" said Dan, greatly amused at having himself discussed so openly.
"Very wealthy; but he wastes all his money in London."
"You do not care for him, I see."
"I think he ought to be more alive to the responsibilities of his position," said Meg, primly. "What are you laughing at now?"