Page:The Castle of Wolfenbach - Parsons - 1854.djvu/20

 brought to bed, and the child was taken from her, and so she died, and 'twas said the child died, and so every body believes 'tis their ghosts that make such dismal noises in the castle, for soon after my lord the Count went away, and Joseph, who worked under the gardener, was ordered to take care of the house; and I lived then under the cook, so we married: all the other servants were discharged, and so we have lived here ever since. My lord came here once or twice, but the ghosts made such a noise, he could not stay. Several gentry have slept here at times, but nobody would stay a second night, and so we have all to ourselves by day, and the ghosts or what they be, have got all the rooms by night, and then they be quiet enough." "Pray, (interrogated the lady) can I walk through the rooms and examine the opposite wing?" "To be sure, madam, you can, if you be so bold, but neither I nor Joseph ever goes there, because that's the part where the poor Countess died." "How many years ago was it?" "Near eighteen, my lady; for next Christmas we have been married so many years, and I was fifty-three and Joseph fifty-two when we came together; not very young, to be sure, what of that, we live very comfortable, only a little lonely or so." "Well, (said her guest) I shall be glad to walk through all the apartments." "I will attend you, madam, except to the other side there I never goes."

After breakfast was over, the lady and Bertha walked up stairs; they went through several fine apartments, the furniture rich though old fashioned, one hung with family portraits she was particularly pleased with; two attracted her attention greatly, which Bertha told her, she had heard say, were the present count and his late lady.

After going through the body of the house, they came to the doors that led to the other wing: "Now, for goodness sake, dear madam, don't go no farther, for as sure as you are alive, here the ghosts live, for