‘Oh Robert, do take me away!’ she answered with a convulsive shudder. ‘I never shall be able to sleep in this house again. They say they have seen it: a dreadful thing all in white, walking about the graves, and moaning to itself, and wringing its hands. Oh, Robert dear, do let us go! It will come into the house next; I am sure it will. I shall die of fright if you don’t take me away at once.’
She clung to me like a terrified child, and as I marked her burning face and felt the feverish clasp of her hands, I could not tell what injury these idiots might not have done her by their folly.
‘What do you mean by this?’ I inquired sternly, as I turned to the group of natives.
Then they began to cringe and salaam before me, as they attempted to repeat the story which had so alarmed my wife. But I would not permit them to do so, but ordered them all out of the room, and turned my attention towards soothing Janie’s fears.
‘You must not be a child, my dear Janie,’ I said, as I replaced her on the sofa, and arranged her pillows for her. ‘These natives are always full of their stupid ghost-stories; but you know better surely than to believe such folly. There are no such things as ghosts, therefore how could they have seen one?’
‘Oh, but indeed—indeed, Robert, it is true!’ she said with painful earnestness. ‘They saw it themselves only last night, and they say it is like a woman with long hair down her back; and when they tried to touch it, it vanished away.’
At this I could not help laughing.
‘A pack of heroes!’ I exclaimed. ‘Why, Janie, there is not one amongst them man enough to inquire into such a mystery, even if they saw it, which I don’t believe. I’ve a good mind to give them a hiding all round to make their eyesight a little clearer.’
‘But what should be their object in repeating it?’ inquired Janie fearfully.
‘If you will condescend to listen, my dear, you will always find them ready to talk. They are full to the brim with such idle tales. You should refuse to hear them, and send them about their business.’