"
CHAPTER XVIII
The walk was a long one. It took them a good way from the more populous
section of East Wellmouth, over the hills and, at last, along the beach
at the foot of the bluff. It was an odd season of the year for a stroll
by the seaside, but neither Thankful nor the captain cared for that. In
fact it is doubtful if either could have told afterward just where
they had been. There were so many and such wonderful things to tell, to
speculate upon, and to discuss.
Thankful told of her brother's return, of Mr. Cobb's miraculous
generosity, and, for the first time, of the ghostly haunting of the
little back bedroom. In the latter story Captain Obed seemed to find
much amusement. He was skeptical.
"I've heard of a good many ghosts in my time," he said, "but I never
heard of one that could stand daylight or common-sense. The idea of your
bein' troubled all this time by that snorin' business or whatever 'tis.
Why didn't you tell me about it? I'd have had that spook out of that
bedroom afore this, I bet you."
"It seemed so silly," confessed Thankful, "that I was ashamed to tell
anybody. But there's SOMETHIN' there. I heard it the first night I came,
and Rebecca Timpson heard it later on, and then Emily and I and Solomon
heard it all together."
"Yes. Well, then, let's see WHEN you heard it. Every time 'twas when
there was a storm; rain and wind and the like of that, eh?"
"Yes. I've slept in that room myself a good many times, but never when
there was a gale of wind or rain.
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