J. S. Le Fanus Ghostly Tales, Volume 3 | Page 3

since the reign of King Charles the Second.
It was William Turnbull in that time, which they called it the
Restoration, he taking the lease from Sir Tony Mardykes that was then.
They was but knights then. They was made baronets first in the reign of
King George the Second; you may see it in the list of baronets and the
nobility. The lease was made to William Turnbull, which came from
London; and he built the stables, which they was out o' repair, as you
may read to this day in the lease; and the house has never had but one
sign since--the George and Dragon, it is pretty well known in
England--and one name to its master. It has been owned by a Turnbull
from that day to this, and they have not been counted bad men." A
murmur of applause testified the assent of his guests. "They has been
steady churchgoin' folk, and brewed good drink, and maintained the
best o' characters, hereaways and farther off too, though 'tis I, Richard
Turnbull, that says it; and while they pay their rent, no man has power
to put them out; for their title's as good to the George and Dragon, and
the two fields, and the croft, and the grazing o' their kye on the green,
as Sir Bale Mardykes to the Hall up there and estate. So 'tis nout to me,
except in the way o' friendliness, what the family may think o' me; only
the George and they has always been kind and friendly, and I don't
want to break the old custom."
"Well said, Dick!" exclaimed Doctor Torvey; "I own to your
conclusion; but there ain't a soul here but ourselves--and we're all
friends, and you are your own master--and, hang it, you'll tell us that

story about the drowned woman, as you heard it from your father long
ago."
"Ay, do, and keep us to our liquor, my hearty!" cried the Captain.
Mr. Peers looked his entreaty; and deaf Mr. Hollar, having no interest
in the petition, was at least a safe witness, and, with his pipe in his lips,
a cozy piece of furniture.
Richard Turnbull had his punch beside him; he looked over his
shoulder. The door was closed, the fire was cheery, and the punch was
fragrant, and all friendly faces about him. So said he:
"Gentlemen, as you're pleased to wish it, I don't see no great harm in it;
and at any rate, 'twill prevent mistakes. It is more than ninety years
since. My father was but a boy then; and many a time I have heard him
tell it in this very room."
And looking into his glass he mused, and stirred his punch slowly.

CHAPTER II
The Drowned Woman
"It ain't much of a homminy," said the host of the George. "I'll not keep
you long over it, gentlemen. There was a handsome young lady, Miss
Mary Feltram o' Cloostedd by name. She was the last o' that family;
and had gone very poor. There's but the walls o' the house left now;
grass growing in the hall, and ivy over the gables; there's no one livin'
has ever hard tell o' smoke out o' they chimblies. It stands on t'other
side o' the lake, on the level wi' a deal o' a'ad trees behint and aside it at
the gap o' the clough, under the pike o' Maiden Fells. Ye may see it wi'
a spyin'-glass from the boatbield at Mardykes Hall."
"I've been there fifty times," said the Doctor.

"Well there was dealin's betwixt the two families; and there's good and
bad in every family; but the Mardykes, in them days, was a wild lot.
And when old Feltram o' Cloostedd died, and the young lady his
daughter was left a ward o' Sir Jasper Mardykes--an ill day for her,
poor lass!--twenty year older than her he was, an' more; and nothin'
about him, they say, to make anyone like or love him, ill-faur'd and
little and dow."
"Dow--that's gloomy," Doctor Torvey instructed the Captain aside.
"But they do say, they has an old blud-stean ring in the family that has
a charm in't; and happen how it might, the poor lass fell in love wi' him.
Some said they was married. Some said it hang'd i' the bell-ropes, and
never had the priest's blessing; but anyhow, married or no, there was
talk enough amang the folk, and out o' doors she would na budge. And
there was two wee barns; and she prayed him hard to confess the
marriage, poor thing! But t'was a bootlese bene, and he would not allow
they should bear his name, but their mother's; he was a hard man, and
hed the bit in his teeth, and went his ain