The Torteval boys were sorely tempted to shrink behind the heap of fagots, but they had already left it far behind; and their friend the caulker continued to advance towards the house. They trembled at remaining with him; but they dared not leave him.
Step by step, and perplexed, they followed. The caulker’s apprentice turned towards them and said—
“You know it isn’t true. There are no such things.”
The house grew taller and taller. The voices became more and more distinct.
They drew nearer.
And now they could perceive within the house something like a muffled light. It was a faint glimmer, like one of those effects produced by dark lanterns, already referred to, and which are common at the midnight meetings of witches.
When they were close to the house they halted.
One of the two Torteval boys ventured on an observation:
“It isn’t spirits: it is ladies dressed in white.”
“What’s that hanging from the window?” asked the other.