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find himself at home in the castle； every room of which way well be
the haunt of some weary ghost！〃
〃I do not believe；〃 said Donal； 〃that any work of man's hands；
however awful with crime done in it； can have nearly such an
influence for belief in the marvellous； as the still presence of
live Nature。 I never saw an old castle beforeat least not to make
any close acquaintance with it； but there is not an aspect of the
grim old survival up there； interesting as every corner of it is；
that moves me like the mere thought of a hill…side with the veil of
the twilight coming down over it； making of it the last step of a
stair for the descending foot of the Lord。〃
〃Surely； Mr。 Grant； you do not expect such a personal advent！〃 said
Miss Graeme。
〃I should not like to say what I do or don't expect；〃 answered
Donaland held his peace； for he saw he was but casting
stumbling…blocks。
The silence grew awkward； and Mr。 Graeme's good breeding called on
him to say something； he supposed Donal felt himself snubbed by his
sister。
〃If you are fond of the marvellous； though； Mr。 Grant；〃 he said；
〃there are some old stories about the castle would interest you。
One of them was brought to my mind the other day in the town。 It
is strange how superstition seems to have its ebbs and flows！ A
story or legend will go to sleep； and after a time revive with fresh
interest； no one knows why。〃
〃Probably；〃 said Donal； 〃it is when the tale comes to ears fitted
for its reception。 They are now in many counties trying to get
together and store the remnants of such tales： possibly the wind of
some such inquiry may have set old people recollecting； and young
people inventing。 That would account for a good dealwould it
not？〃
〃Yes； but not for all； I think。 There has been no such inquiry made
anywhere near us； so far as I am aware。 I went to the Morven Arms
last night to meet a tenant； and found the tradesmen were talking；
over their toddy； of various events at the castle； and especially of
one； the most frightful of all。 It should have been forgotten by
this time； for the ratio of forgetting； increases。〃
〃I should like much to hear it！〃 said Donal。
〃Do tell him； Hector；〃 said Miss Graeme； 〃and I will watch his
hair。〃
〃It is the hair of those who mock at such things you should watch；〃
returned Donal。 〃Their imagination is so rarely excited that； when
it is； it affects their nerves more than the belief of others
affects theirs。〃
〃Now I have you！〃 cried Miss Graeme。 〃There you confess yourself a
believer！〃
〃I fear you have come to too general a conclusion。 Because I
believe the Bible； do I believe everything that comes from the
pulpit？ Some tales I should reject with a contempt that would
satisfy even Miss Graeme； of others I should say'These seem as if
they might be true；' and of still others； 'These ought to be true； I
think。'But do tell me the story。〃
〃It is not；〃 replied Mr。 Graeme； 〃a very peculiar onecertainly not
peculiar to our castle； though unique in some of its details； a
similar legend belongs to several houses in Scotland； and is to be
found； I fancy； in other countries as well。 There is one not far
from here； around whose dark basementsor hoary battlementswho
shall say which？floats a similar tale。 It is of a hidden room；
whose position or entrance nobody knows。 Whether it belongs to our
castle by right I cannot tell。〃
〃A species of report；〃 said Donal； 〃very likely to arise by a kind
of cryptogamic generation！ The common people； accustomed to the
narrowest dwellings； gazing on the huge proportions of the place；
and upon occasion admitted； and walking through a succession of
rooms and passages； to them as intricate and confused as a
rabbit…warren； must be very ready； I should think； to imagine the
existence within such a pile； of places unknown even to the
inhabitants of it themselves！But I beg your pardon： do tell us the
story。〃
〃Mr。 Grant；〃 said Kate； 〃you perplex me！ I begin to doubt if you
have any principles。 One moment you take one side and the next the
other！〃
〃No； no； I but love my own side too well to let any traitors into
its ranks： I would have nothing to do with lies。〃
〃They are all lies together！〃
〃Then I want to hear this one；〃 said Donal。
〃I daresay you have heard it before！〃 remarked Mr。 Graeme； and
began。
〃It was in the earldom of a certain recklessly wicked wretch； who
not only robbed his poor neighbours； and even killed them when they
opposed him； but went so far as to behave as wickedly on the Sabbath
as on any other day of the week。 Late one Saturday night； a company
were seated in the castle； playing cards； and drinking； and all the
time Sunday was drawing nearer and nearer； and nobody heeding。 At
length one of them； seeing the hands of the clock at a quarter to
twelve； made the remark that it was time to stop。 He did not
mention the sacred day； but all knew what he meant。 The earl
laughed； and said； if he was afraid of the kirk…session； he might
go； and another would take his hand。 But the man sat still； and
said no more till the clock gave the warning。 Then he spoke again；
and said the day was almost out； and they ought not to go on playing
into the Sabbath。 And as he uttered the word； his mouth was pulled
all on one side。 But the earl struck his fist on the table； and
swore a great oath that if any man rose he would run him through。
'What care I for the Sabbath！' he said。 'I gave you your chance to
go；' he added； turning to the man who had spoken； who was dressed in
black like a minister； 'and you would not take it： now you shall sit
where you are。' He glared fiercely at him； and the man returned him
an equally fiery stare。 And now first they began to discover what；
through the fumes of the whisky and the smoke of the pine…torches；
they had not observed； namely； that none of them knew the man； or
had ever seen him before。 They looked at him； and could not turn
their eyes from him； and a cold terror began to creep through their
vitals。 He kept his fierce scornful look fixed on the earl for a
moment； and then spoke。 'And I gave you your chance；' he said； 'and
you would not take it： now you shall sit still where you are； and no
Sabbath shall you ever see。' The clock began to strike； and the
man's mouth came straight again。 But when the hammer had struck
eleven times； it struck no more； and the clock stopped。 'This day
twelvemonth；' said the man； 'you shall see me again； and so every
year till your time is up。 I hope you will enjoy your game！' The
earl would have sprung to his feet； but could not stir； and the man
was nowhere to be seen。 He was gone； taking with him both door and
windows of the roomnot as Samson carried off the gates of Gaza；
however； for he left not the least sign of where they had been。
》From that day to this no one has been able to find the room。 There
the wicked earl and his companions still sit； playing with the same
pack of cards； and waiting their doom。 It has been said that； on
that same day of the yearonly； unfortunately； testimony differs as
to the dayshouts of drunken laughter may be heard issuing from
somewhere in the cast