'But there must be,' she answered.
'It was a ghost, then,' he replied, 'for no one could have got over the walls without my seeing him.'
'I am certain,' persisted the wife, 'that I saw a man put up his hand to the window, and if it was a ghost, it was the ghost of your son, who came to tell you that he is dead.'
'If it was my son,' said the husband, 'he is come to tell us he is alive, I warrant you, and to ask how you can be so wicked as to wish to disinherit him. Alexander! Alexander!' he cried, looking towards the window. 'If you are alive, show yourself, and don't let me be vexed daily with tales of your death.'
As he spoke, the window flew open, and Alexander looked in. He stared angrily at his stepmother, who shrieked and fainted; and uttering the word 'Here' in a clear voice, the young man vanished.
Immediately her husband rushed outside and tried the doors leading from the garden into the stables and some fields, but found them all barred. Then he inquired of some men if anyone had passed, but they had seen no one.
After that he returned to the parlour, and seated himself in his chair, waiting till his wife had recovered herself.
'What was it?' she asked as soon as she could speak.
'Alexander, without a doubt,' answered he, and she fainted a second time, and was in bed for several days afterwards.