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Still this was no confession of Mrs Forrester's peculiar timidity； and
we urged her to tell us what she thought would frighten her more than
anything。 She paused； and stirred the fire； and snuffed the candles； and
then she said； in a sounding whisper …
〃Ghosts！〃
She looked at Miss Pole； as much as to say； she had declared it； and
would stand by it。 Such a look was a challenge in itself。 Miss Pole
came down upon her with indigestion； spectral illusions； optical
delusions； and a great deal out of Dr Ferrier and Dr Hibbert besides。
Miss Matty had rather a leaning to ghosts； as I have mentioned before；
and what little she did say was all on Mrs Forrester's side； who；
emboldened by sympathy； protested that ghosts were a part of her
religion； that surely she； the widow of a major in the army； knew what to
be frightened at； and what not； in short； I never saw Mrs Forrester so
warm either before or since； for she was a gentle； meek； enduring old
lady in most things。 Not all the elder…wine that ever was mulled could
this night wash out the remembrance of this difference between Miss
Pole and her hostess。 Indeed； when the elder…wine was brought in； it
gave rise to a new burst of discussion； for Jenny； the little maiden who
staggered under the tray； had to give evidence of having seen a ghost
with her own eyes； not so many nights ago； in Darkness Lane； the very
lane we were to go through on our way home。
In spite of the uncomfortable feeling which this last consideration
gave me； I could not help being amused at Jenny's position； which was
exceedingly like that of a witness being examined and cross… examined by
two counsel who are not at all scrupulous about asking leading questions。
The conclusion I arrived at was； that Jenny had certainly seen something
beyond what a fit of indigestion would have caused。 A lady all in white；
and without her head； was what she deposed and adhered to； supported
by a consciousness of the secret sympathy of her mistress under the
withering scorn with which Miss Pole regarded her。 And not only she；
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but many others； had seen this headless lady； who sat by the roadside
wringing her hands as in deep grief。 Mrs Forrester looked at us from
time to time with an air of conscious triumph； but then she had not to
pass through Darkness Lane before she could bury herself beneath her
own familiar bed…clothes。
We preserved a discreet silence as to the headless lady while we
were putting on our things to go home； for there was no knowing how
near the ghostly head and ears might be； or what spiritual connection
they might be keeping up with the unhappy body in Darkness Lane； and；
therefore； even Miss Pole felt that it was as well not to speak lightly on
such subjects； for fear of vexing or insulting that woebegone trunk。 At
least； so I conjecture； for； instead of the busy clatter usual in the
operation； we tied on our cloaks as sadly as mutes at a funeral。 Miss
Matty drew the curtains round the windows of the chair to shut out
disagreeable sights； and the men （either because they were in spirits that
their labours were so nearly ended； or because they were going down
hill）； set off at such a round and merry pace； that it was all Miss Pole and
I could do to keep up with them。 She had breath for nothing beyond an
imploring 〃Don't leave me！〃 uttered as she clutched my arm so tightly
that I could not have quitted her； ghost or no ghost。 What a relief it was
when the men； weary of their burden and their quick trot； stopped just
where Headingley Causeway branches off from Darkness Lane！ Miss
Pole unloosed me and caught at one of the men …
〃Could not you … could not you take Miss Matty round by Headingley
Causeway？ … the pavement in Darkness Lane jolts so； and she is not very
strong。〃
A smothered voice was heard from the inside of the chair …
〃Oh！ pray go on！ What is the matter？ What is the matter？ I will
give you sixpence more to go on very fast； pray don't stop here。〃
〃And I'll give you a shilling；〃 said Miss Pole； with tremulous dignity；
〃if you'll go by Headingley Causeway。〃
The two men grunted acquiescence and took up the chair； and went
along the causeway； which certainly answered Miss Pole's kind purpose
of saving Miss Matty's bones； for it was covered with soft； thick mud；
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and even a fall there would have been easy till the getting…up came；
when there might have been some difficulty in extrication。
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CHAPTER XI … SAMUEL
BROWN
THE next morning I met Lady Glenmire and Miss Pole setting out on
a long walk to find some old woman who was famous in the
neighbourhood for her skill in knitting woollen stockings。 Miss Pole
said to me； with a smile half…kindly and half…contemptuous upon her
countenance； 〃I have been just telling Lady Glenmire of our poor friend
Mrs Forrester； and her terror of ghosts。 It comes from living so much
alone； and listening to the bug…a…boo stories of that Jenny of hers。〃 She
was so calm and so much above superstitious fears herself that I was
almost ashamed to say how glad I had been of her Headingley Causeway
proposition the night before； and turned off the conversation to
something else。
In the afternoon Miss Pole called on Miss Matty to