J. S. Le Fanu's Ghostly Tales, Volume 3

ulaper

g him. It must be allowed he was not popular. There was, perhaps, in his conduct something of the caprice of

ssions and offices which could not be suitably intrusted to a mere servant. But in many respects he was treated worse than any servant of the Baronet's. Sir Bale swore at h

he scourge, with an air of ready volition? The moral coercion of despair; the result of an unconscious calculation of chances which satisfies them that it is ultimately better to do all that, bad as it is, than try the alternative. These unconscious calculations

am's bondage. But he was not so sure that even the stone-breaker's employment was open to him, or that he could break stones wel

t Mardykes Hall, was kind to Feltram, as to all

en of other people's secrets, as the reeds did long ago, only that no ch

kes Hall, though the housekeeper's room

finally to settle and drop out of remembrance. There is a lady in white satin and a ruff; a gentleman whose legs have faded out of view, with a peaked beard, and a hawk on his wrist. There is another in a black periwig lost in the dark background, and with a steel cuirass, the gleam of which out of the darkness strikes the eye, and a scar

ooking down upon the great kitchen, with a little balcony before you, from which the ho

e them, her books of housewifery, and among them volumes of MS. recipes, cookery-books, and some too on surgery and medicine

d wish he was dead; and kind Mrs. Julaper, who remembered him a child, would comfo

ld not it be better, Mrs. Julaper, to be dead? Wouldn't it be better, ma'am? I think so; I think it night and day. I'm always thinking

ow and again; but no one minded that. I don't, nor you needn't, no more than other folk; for the tongue, be it never so bitin', it can't draw blood, mind ye, and hard words break no b

n him. She was, for an old woman, wonderfully pretty still. What a delicate skin she must have had! The wrinkles were etched upon it with so

oft everything looks in that pleasant light; that's better, child, than the finest picture man's hand e

llowed with his eyes the glance of the old wo

troubles me,

ug for ye, child, if ye be so dowly;" and with a mimic pluck

, and I'll make a cup of tea; and if I find ye so dow whe

ushed all over with the low western light; the more distant waters lay dark in the shadow of the mountains; and again

ttiest feature-for the weak and dismal man who was looking at it; and being now alone, he rose and leant on the window,

eeper came back; and seeing him walking in this distracted wa

someone or something, man or beast; there always was something he hated, and could never let alone

de him sit down, and she said: "What has a man to do, frettin' in that way? By Jen, I'm ashamed o' ye,

I feel quite comfortable after awhile when I'm wi

but went on chatting gaily, and made his tea as he liked it;

f tea and a chat with gentle and cheery old Mrs. Julaper, and a talk in which the sh

the kindly old times by the tinkle of t

not care so much-if my spirits were not so depresse

nd it's odd but I have a recipe on th

hough I'd rather have you than any doctor,

pharmacy was a point on which the good lady prided herself, and was open

er was better. It is only, ma'am, that

ams that is bad. Lady Mardykes-heavens be her bed this day! that's his grandmother I mean-was very sharp for reading dreams. Take another cup of tea. Dear me! what a noise the crows keep aboon our heads, going home! and how high they wing