Page:Over fen and wold; (IA overfenwold00hissiala).pdf/329

 scenery was entirely changed, we had touched the fringe of the Wold region, the highlands of Lincolnshire—"Wide, wild, and open to the air." At the top of the hill we arrived at a scattered little village, and this proved to be Halton Holgate. The church stood on one side of the road, the rectory on the other; to the latter we at once made our way, trusting to learn something authoritative about the haunted house from the rector, and hoping that perhaps we might obtain an introduction to the tenant through him. Unfortunately the rector was out, and not expected back till the evening. This was disappointing. The only thing to do now was to find our way to the house, and trust to our usual good fortune to obtain admission and an interview with the farmer's wife.

We accosted the first native we met. Of him we boldly asked our way to the "haunted house," for we did not even know the name of it. But our query was sufficient, evidently the humble homestead had become famous, and had well established its reputation. We were directed to a footpath which we were told to follow across some fields, "it will take you right there." Then we ventured to ask the native if he had heard much about the ghost. He replied laconically, "Rather." Did he believe in it? "Rather" again. We were not gaining much by our queries, the native did not appear to be of a communicative nature, and our attempts to draw him out were not very successful. To a further question if many people came to see the house, we received the same reply. Mani