The Best Ghost Stories | Page 6

fits?
No, says Mrs. Bargrave, I think you look as well as ever I knew you. After all this
discourse, which the apparition put in much finer words than Mrs. Bargrave said she
could pretend to, and as much more than she can remember, (for it cannot be thought,
that an hour and three quarters' conversation could all be retained, though the main of it
she thinks she does,) she said to Mrs. Bargrave, she would have her write a letter to her
brother, and tell him, she would have him give rings to such and such; and that there was
a purse of gold in her cabinet, and that she would have two broad pieces given to her
cousin Watson.
Talking at this rate, Mrs. Bargrave thought that a fit was coming upon her, and so placed
herself in a chair just before her knees, to keep her from falling to the ground, if her fits
should occasion it: for the elbow-chair, she thought, would keep her from falling on
either side. And to divert Mrs. Veal, as she thought, took hold of her gown-sleeve several
times, and commended it. Mrs. Veal told her, it was a scowered silk, and newly made up.
But for all this, Mrs. Veal persisted in her request, and told Mrs. Bargrave, she must not
deny her: and she would have her tell her brother all their conversation, when she had
opportunity. Dear Mrs. Veal, says Mrs. Bargrave, this seems so impertinent, that I cannot
tell how to comply with it; and what a mortifying story will our conversation be to a
young gentleman? Why, says Mrs. Bargrave, it is much better, methinks, to do it yourself.
No, says Mrs. Veal, though it seems impertinent to you now, you will see more reason for
it hereafter. Mrs. Bargrave then, to satisfy her importunity, was going to fetch a pen and
ink; but Mrs. Veal said, Let it alone now, but do it when I am gone; but you must be sure
to do it: which was one of the last things she enjoined her at parting; and so she promised
her.
Then Mrs. Veal asked for Mrs. Bargrave's daughter; she said, she was not at home: But if
you have a mind to see her, says Mrs. Bargrave, I'll send for her. Do, says Mrs. Veal. On
which she left her, and went to a neighbor's to seek for her; and by the time Mrs.
Bargrave was returning, Mrs. Veal was got without the door in the street, in the face of
the beast-market, on a Saturday, which is market-day, and stood ready to part, as soon as
Mrs. Bargrave came to her. She asked her, why she was in such haste. She said she must
be going, though perhaps she might not go her journey till Monday; and told Mrs.
Bargrave, she hoped she should see her again at her cousin Watson's, before she went
whither she was going. Then she said, she would take her leave of her, and walked from
Mrs. Bargrave in her view, till a turning interrupted the sight of her, which was three
quarters after one in the afternoon.
Mrs. Veal died the 7th of September, at twelve o'clock at noon of her fits, and had not
above four hours' senses before her death, in which time she received the sacrament. The
next day after Mrs. Veal's appearing, being Sunday, Mrs. Bargrave was mightily
indisposed with a cold, and a sore throat, that she could not go out that day; but on
Monday morning she sent a person to Captain Watson's, to know if Mrs. Veal was there.
They wondered at Mrs. Bargrave's inquiry; and sent her word, that she was not there, nor
was expected. At this answer Mrs. Bargrave told the maid she had certainly mistook the
name, or made some blunder. And though she was ill, she put on her hood, and went

herself to Captain Watson's though she knew none of the family, to see if Mrs. Veal was
there or not. They said, they wondered at her asking, for that she had not been in town;
they were sure, if she had, she would have been there. Says Mrs. Bargrave, I am sure she
was with me on Saturday almost two hours. They said, it was impossible; for they must
have seen her if she had. In comes Captain Watson, while they were in dispute, and said,
that Mrs. Veal was certainly dead, and her escutcheons were making. This strangely
surprised Mrs. Bargrave, when she sent to the person immediately who had the care of
them, and found it true. Then she related the whole story to Captain Watson's family, and
what gown she had on, and how striped; and that Mrs. Veal told