"Do not be in a hurry, Mrs. Honlaghan," said he, mildly; "reflect upon
what you are about to say, and take your time."
"It's a ghost, your reverence," she replied--"a ghost that haunts the
house."
"Very well, Mrs. Houlaghan; the fee for laying a ghost is five
shillings; I will trouble you for that sum; we conjurers have no power
until we get money from the party concerned, and then we can work with
effect."
The simple woman, in the agitation of the moment, handed him the amount
of his demand, and then collected herself to hear the response, and the
means of laying the ghost.
"Well, now," said he, "tell me all about this ghost, Mrs. Houlaghan. How
long has it been troubling the family?"
"Why, then, ever since Frank lost the use of his sight, now goin' upon
five months."
"When does it appear?"
"Why, generally afther twelve at night; and what makes it more strange
is, that poor Mary's more afeard o' me than she is of the ghost. She
says it appears to her in her bedroom every night; but she knows I'm so
timersome that she keeps her door always locked for fraid I'd see it,
poor child.
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