Now, if you lived in an ordinary house in an ordinary street in an ordinary town, an incident like this would create no surprise.  It happens often:  true, it is not a very new or bright joke, still it is a joke that boys and girls enjoy, and will continue to enjoy.  But away in the country, at an old castle, with no house within a quarter of a mile of it, the case is very different.  How was it to be accounted for?

The Ormistons came in, the girls looking scared, and the boys laughing and saying that Mary Stuart or Darnley or Bothwell, whose names they had made so free with shouting to the echo, must have heard themselves called and were ringing the bell, although not allowed to show themselves; but even as they said it the boys would fain have whistled to keep their courage up.

“I wish papa and mamma had been at home,” said Bell.

“Or if only the Parkers could have been persuaded to stay all night,” suggested Jessie.

“Nonsense!” Bessie said.  “Some one is playing us a trick, but we don’t need to let it spoil our game;” and she put the handkerchief over her eyes.  “Look here, Edwin:  will you tie this?  You do it better than John.”

“He doesn’t,” said John.  “I believe he leaves it so that you can see.  I’ll do it.  No, I won’t make it too tight.”

“Don’t you think, Jessie,” Edwin asked, “that I could protect you, in case of danger, as well as the Parkers?”

“I don’t know.  Perhaps if you were like yourself, but you’re not like yourself.”

“He’s as dull as ditch-water,” said John.

“But,” said Jessie, taking his hand with a feeling of security, “you’re better than nothing—­a great deal better than nothing.”

“Thank you, Jessie, thank you!  A man is the better for a little encouragement, you know;” and he looked at the Rose, but she was blind; which made her easier looked at, to be sure, but there was less chance of an answer, encouraging or otherwise.

They had got up the spirit of the game again, and were going on briskly, when they were all brought to a stand by the bell ringing for the third time.

“Don’t stop,” cried Bessie:  “go on with the game and take no notice unless it rings again;” and as a leader who must show no fear she chased her sisters round the kitchen, making them flee to avoid being caught, when, as if in answer to her remark, the bell did ring again.

This was too much.  They all ran to the door, but neither human being nor ghost was to be seen.

“I say,” said John to his brother, “you and I will go out and watch.  Edwin, you’ll stay with the girls—­they are frightened—­and if the bell rings again we’ll see who does it.”

“You have more need of Edwin than we have, John,” Bessie said:  “it will take you all to catch a ghost.”

“Come away, then,” cried John; and he posted his sentinels at different angles, where each could have his eye on the door.  The girls shut themselves in the house, and outside and in they awaited the result.