Page:The Castle of Wolfenbach - Parsons - 1854.djvu/19

 comes here to sleep; we never hear any noise else." "Why, then your ghosts are very rude unsociable folks, (answered Albert) for strangers can do them no hurt, and there's room enough, me thinks, in this great house for them to have their merriments, without coming to frighten honest travellers, that never desire to interrupt them." "I don't know how it is, (replied Joseph) but as to merriment, sure there can be none in groans and cries, and they do say that cruel wicked deeds have been done in this castle, and I suppose the poor souls can't lay quiet." "Dear me, (cries Albert) I wish my mistress may be well enough to go farther, though poor soul, she does'nt know where to go to, that's true." "Poor lady, that's bad indeed; has she no parents, nor husband, nor uncles, nor aunts, nor" "Yes, yes, (said Albert, interrupting him) she has some relations, but what of that, better she had none, I believe, for her O, here comes Bertha." On her entrance the good morrows and enquiries were repeated; Bertha expressed her sorrow for the lady, and immediately ascended the stairs to see if she was not frightened out of her wits by such a cruel disturbance.

She soon returned with the lady, and breakfast being quickly set before her, she endeavoured to eat, but her appetite was so indifferent as to cause great pain to the friendly Bertha.

Joseph mounted his favourite beast and repaired to the town, that he might procure necessaries for his family, superior to what he had bought the day before. After his departure, and that Albert was gone to look after his horse, the fair stranger demanded of Bertha if she could give her any account of the owners of the castle. "Why, madam, (answered she) the present lord of this estate is—aye, his name is Count Wolfenbach; he married a very handsome lady at Vienna, and brought her here; it was then a beautiful place, very unlike such as it be now; but howsumever they say he was very jealous, and behaved very ill to the poor lady, and locked her up, and there she was