The study looked bright and pleasant—a cheery fire flashed on the silver teapot and cream-ewer, and old China tea things, and glimmered warmly over the faded gilded backs of the books. This and the candles lighted up the room so brightly that it needed an effort—notwithstanding the dark wainscot—to admit a thought of a ghost.
I don’t know whether the parson had really any faith in ghosts or not. He thought he had, and cultivated in private a taste for that curious luxury, though he was reserved on the subject among his parishioners. I don’t think, however, if his nerves had been as much engaged as they might, he could have turned over the old tomes of the late Dean of Crutched Friars with so much interest as he did, or commented so energetically upon the authors and editions.
Doctor Drake was utterly sceptical, and being “threatened with one of his ugly colds,” preferred brandy and water to tea—a little stimulus seasonably applied, often routing the enemy before he had time to make an impression. So, very snugly they sat round their table. The conversation was chiefly between the rector and the doctor, William being plainly out of spirits and a good deal in the clouds. The Churchman sipped his tea, and the physician his strong drink, and there was adjusted a plan for the operations of the night.
“Now, Mr. Maubray, you must do as we order; when we bid you, you go to bed—do you see?—everything must proceed precisely as usual, and Doctor Drake and I will sit up and watch here—you go, at your accustomed hour, and lock your door—mind, as usual—and we’ll be on the alert, and ready to—to⸺”
“To arrest the cabinet—egad!—and garrotte the clock, if either so much as cracks while we are on duty,” interposed Doctor Drake, poking William’s flagging spirits with a joke, in vain.
“I dare say,” was William’s parting observation; “just because you are both here there will be nothing whatever to-night—I’m quite certain; but I’m awfully obliged to you all the same.”
He was quite wrong, however, as all who please may learn from the sequel.
