Madam Crowls Ghost and the Dead Sexton | Page 7

to the buryin'. So the old lady of Applewale was
laid in the vault under Lexhoe Church; and we lived up at the great
house till such time as the squire should come to tell his will about us,
and pay off such as he chose to discharge.
"I was put into another room, two doors away from what was Dame
Crowl's chamber, after her death, and this thing happened the night
before Squire Chevenix came to Applewale.
"The room I was in now was a large square chamber, covered wi' yak
pannels, but unfurnished except for my bed, which had no curtains to it,
and a chair and a table, or so, that looked nothing at all in such a big
room. And the big looking-glass, that the old lady used to keek into and
admire herself from head to heel, now that there was na mair o' that
wark, was put out of the way, and stood against the wall in my room,
for there was shiftin' o' many things in her chamber ye may suppose,
when she came to be coffined.
"The news had come that day that the squire was to be down next
morning at Applewale; and not sorry was I, for I thought I was sure to
be sent home again to my mother. And right glad was I, and I was
thinkin' of a' at hame, and my sister Janet, and the kitten and the pymag,
and Trimmer the tike, and all the rest, and I got sa fidgetty, I couldn't
sleep, and the clock struck twelve, and me wide awake, and the room as
dark as pick. My back was turned to the door, and my eyes toward the
wall opposite.
"Well, it could na be a full quarter past twelve, when I sees a lightin' on
the wall befoore me, as if something took fire behind, and the shadas o'
the bed, and the chair, and my gown, that was hangin' from the wall,
was dancin' up and down on the ceilin' beams and the yak pannels; and

I turns my head ower my shouther quick, thinkin' something must a
gone a' fire.
"And what sud I see, by Jen! but the likeness o' the ald beldame,
bedizened out in her satins and velvets, on her dead body, simperin', wi'
her eyes as wide as saucers, and her face like the fiend himself. 'Twas a
red light that rose about her in a fuffin low, as if her dress round her
feet was blazin'. She was drivin' on right for me, wi' her ald shrivelled
hands crooked as if she was goin' to claw me. I could not stir, but she
passed me straight by, wi' a blast o' cald air, and I sid her, at the wall, in
the alcove as my aunt used to call it, which was a recess where the state
bed used to stand in ald times wi' a door open wide, and her hands
gropin' in at somethin' was there. I never sid that door befoore. And she
turned round to me, like a thing on a pivot, flyrin', and all at once the
room was dark, and I standin' at the far side o' the bed; I don't know
how I got there, and I found my tongue at last, and if I did na blare a
yellock, rennin' down the gallery and almost pulled Mrs. Wyvern's door
off t' hooks, and frighted her half out o' wits.
"Ye may guess I did na sleep that night; and wi' the first light, down wi'
me to my aunt, as fast as my two legs cud carry me.
"Well my aunt did na frump or flite me, as I thought she would, but she
held me by the hand, and looked hard in my face all the time. And she
telt me not to be feared; and says she:
"'Hed the appearance a key in its hand?'
"'Yes,' says I, bringin' it to mind, 'a big key in a queer brass handle.'
"'Stop a bit,' says she, lettin' go ma hand, and openin' the cupboard-door.
'Was it like this?' says she, takin' one out in her fingers, and showing it
to me, with a dark look in my face.
"'That was it,' says I, quick enough.
"'Are ye sure?' she says, turnin' it round.

"'Sart,' says I, and I felt like I was gain' to faint when I sid it.
"'Well, that will do, child,' says she, saftly thinkin', and she locked it up
again.
"'The squire himself will be here today, before twelve o'clock, and ye
must tell him all about it,' says she, thinkin', 'and I suppose I'll be
leavin' soon, and so the best thing for the present is, that ye should go
home