The Argosy — page 61: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Argosy astonished to find the sitting—room untenanted. Meanwhile poor Hal, Jack and Lucy shrieked in chorus 'Oh, the old woman in the black bonnet! Oh, take her away!’ “Poor Angela, trembling, hung over the cribs trying to soothe the children. It was a good while before they could tell what had happened. 'She came again,’ said Hal, 'and she came close, close to me, and she put her cold face down near my cheek till she touched me, and I don't like her—oh, I don't like her, mother!’ “Did she go to Jack and Lucy too?’ “Yes, yes; and she made them cry as well.' “Why do you not like her? Is it the black bonnet? You dreamt of a black bonnet last night, you know,’ said I, half—puzzled, half—provoked. “She's so frightful,’ cried Hal. ‘How could you see her? There was no candle.’ “This question perplexed the little boys. They persisted that she had a light about her somewhere. I need hardly say that there was no comfort for us the rest of the night. 'If anyone is trying to frighten us out of the place, I'll be even with him yet,’ said I. My wife believed that a trick had been played upon the children, and she was most indignant. “Next day the cribs were removed to the upper story, and Charlotte and Joanna, our daughters of twelve and fourteen, were put to sleep in the dressing—room. We predicted an end to the annoyance we had been suffering. The nurse was a quick—tempered woman, who would not stand any nonsense, and Hal's bad dreams would be sternly driven away. We settled ourselves to our comfortable light reading by the drawing-room fire. Suddenly there was a commotion overhead; an outcry—surprised more than terrified, it sounded to us. Angela laid her book down quickly and listened with all her ears. Fast—flying footsteps were heard above; the clapping of a door; then—scurry, scurry—the patter of bare feet down the staircase. We hurried across the hall, and saw Charlotte in her nightgown returning slowly up the kitchen stairs, with a puzzled expression on her honest face. "What on earth are you doing, child?’ cried Angela. “T was giving chase to a hideous old woman in a black bonnet, who chose to intrude upon us,’ panted Charlotte. 'I saw her in our room; I jumped out of bed and pursued her through your room and the sitting—room. Then I saw her before me going downstairs, and I ran after her; but the door at the foot of the kitchen staircase was shut. She certainly could not have had time to open it, and I really don't know where she can have gone to!’ “This was Charlotte's explanation of her mad scurry downstairs. Her downright sensible face was puzzled and angry. “So you see the little ones must have been tormented by that old wretch, whoever she is. They didn't dream it, father, as you thought. Wouldn't I like to punish her!” “What a brave girl!” cried Mrs. Marchmont. “Brave? Oh, Charlotte's as bold as a lion! She went back to bed; and when we followed her, in a couple of hours, she was sleeping soundly. But I can't say either of us slept so well. If a trick was being played upon us, it was carried out in so clever a manner as to baffle me completely. I need not say that I made careful search of every cranny about the handsome house and offices; and if there was a secret passage or a door in the wall anywhere, it escaped me. We had peace for a fortnight, and then the annoyance recommenced. “Angela's nerve was shaken at last, and she began to whisper, 'There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio'—” “John, you are making a story!” interrupted Mrs. Henniker. “Tt is every word true. I am coming to an end. Angela, in spite of her disclaimer, did believe in a ghost ina black bonnet. Charlotte believed in her, but did not care about her ghostship. The nurse and cook and housemaid declared they were meeting the horrible appearance constantly; and they were all three in a mortal funk. As to the children, they would not leave off clinging to their mother, and fretting and trembling when evening came. The milkman, the baker and the butcher, all told the servants that we would not be long at the Hall, for nobody ever remained more than a month or two. This was cheerful and encouraging for me!” “But you had never seen the charming old woman all this time?” “No; but I saw her in the broad daylight. I had a good long look at her, and a more diabolical face I never 09 GONMIGIOOKSHEO