The little fellow opened his blue eyes wider. "I don't think you know what ghosts are," he remarked.
"Oh yes, I do," answered Brandon. "I've often read about them. Some people think a good deal of them, but I never could see the fun of having them myself, and," he continued, "I never noticed any about your premises, John."
"No," answered John Mortimer, following his lead; "they would be no use for the children to play with."
"Do they scratch, then?" inquired the little Anastasia.
"No, my beauty bright, but I'm told they only wake up when it's too dark for children to play."
"Peter's ghost doesn't," observed Master Bertram. "He came in the morning."
"Did he steal anything?" inquired Brandon, still desirous, it seemed, to throw dirt at the great idea.
"Oh no, he didn't steal," said the other little boy, "that's not what they're for."
"What did he say then?"
"He gave a deep sigh, but he didn't say nothink."