“As heaven’s above us, into the haunted house; and if the dogs were to get a thousand guineas apiece, one of them couldn’t be forced into it afther her.  They ran with their noses on her very scut, widin five or six yards of it, and when she went into it they stood stock still, and neither man nor sword could get them to go farther.  But what do you think Masther Harry said afther he had seen all this?  ‘Barney,’ said he, ’I’m detarmined to spend a night in the haunted house before I’m much ouldher; only keep that to yourself, and don’t make a blowing horn of it through the parish.’  And what he said to me, I say to you—­never breathe a syllable of it to man or mortal.  It’ll be worse for you if you do.  And now, do you remember what Lanty Malony saw the other night?  The black man kissin’ the white woman.  Is it clear to yez now?  The Shan-dhinne-dhuv—­the Black Specthre—­kissin’ Bet Harramount, the white woman.  There it is; and now you have it as clear as a, b, c.”

Barney then retired to his bed, leaving the denizens of the kitchen in a state which the reader may very well understand.

CHAPTER X. True Love Defeated.

Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin, in the absence of their daughter, held a very agreeable conversation on the subject of Mrs. Lindsay’s visit.  Neither Goodwin nor his wife was in the slightest degree selfish, yet, somehow, there crept into their hearts a certain portion of selfishness, which could be traced only to the affection which they felt for Alice.  They calculated that Henry Woodward, having been reared and educated by his uncle, would be amply provided for by that wealthy gentleman—­who, besides, was childless.  This consideration became a strong element in their deliberations and discussions upon the projected match, and they accordingly resolved to win over Alice’s consent to it as soon as possible.  From the obedience of her disposition, and the natural pliancy of her character with the opinions of others, they concluded the matter as arranged and certain.  They forgot, however, that Alice, though a feeble thinker on matters of superstition and others of a minor importance, could sometimes exercise a will of her own, but very seldom, if ever, when opposed to theirs.  They knew her love and affection for them, and that she was capable of making any sacrifice that might contribute to their happiness.  They had, however, observed of late—­indeed for a considerable time past—­that she appeared to be in low spirits, moved about as if there was a pressure of some description in her mind; and when they asked her if she were at ease—­which they often did—­she only replied by a smile, and asked them in return why she should be otherwise.  With this reply they were satisfied, for they knew that upon the general occurrences of life she was almost a mere child, and that, although her health was good, her constitution was naturally delicate, and liable to be affected by many things indifferent in themselves, which girls of a stronger mind and constitution would neither perceive nor feel.  The summing up of all was that they apprehended no obstruction to the proposed union from any objection on her part, as soon as she should be made acquainted with their wishes.