Three years ago next May, David Gidlow, the tenant under lease from me,
left it, and I have not yet been able to meet with another occupant
fully to my satisfaction; indeed, I have some intention of pulling down
the house and disposing of the materials."
"Pulling it down!" I exclaimed, with indignation.
"Yes; that is, it is so untenantable--so--what shall I call it?--that
nobody cares to live there."
"I hope it is not haunted?"
"Haunted!" exclaimed he, surveying me with a severe and scrutinising
glance. "What should have put that into your head?"
I was afraid I had said too much; and anxious to allay the suspicion I
saw gathering in his countenance--"Nay, uncle," I quickly rejoined; "but
you seemed so afraid of speaking out upon the matter that I thought
there must needs be a ghost at the bottom of it."
"As for that," said he, carelessly; "the foolish farmer and his wife did
hint something of the sort; but it is well known that I pay no attention
to such tales. The long and the short of it, I fancy, was, that they
were tired of their bargain, and wanted me to take it off their hands."
Here honest Gilbert entered, to say that Mr L----, the attorney, would
be glad to have a word with his master.
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