"
"What did Mrs. Henniker do?"
"She started up and ran to catch the old woman in the black bonnet."
"And did she catch her?"
"She caught a _shiver_--nothing more!
"After this I resolved to give up the Hall at once, sacrificing four
months' rent for the sake of my wife and children, whose nerves would
have soon become shattered had we remained. I went to Mr. Harold and
told him how disagreeable the place was to us. He was grave and very
guarded in manner, confessing that no tenant stayed more than a couple
of months at the Hall--that his client certainly made considerably in
consequence--that he had done his utmost to find out what was wrong with
the house, but all in vain. Mr. J---- would not speak about it, and when
strenuously urged to explain, replied emphatically--'_I shall never tell
you the story of that house._'
"We dismissed the servants with handsome presents at once on our return
to Dublin, so desirous were we that the children should never be
reminded of their terror. I think they have not heard the old woman in
the black bonnet spoken of since we left the Hall, and the younger ones
have probably forgotten her.
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