Page:The Mysterious Warning - Parsons (1796, volume 4).djvu/129

 apartments were noble, and the furniture, though faded and decayed, yet perfectly clean and commodious.

Talking with the steward, he observed the situation was so romantic, and the environs so beautiful, that he was astonished his lord never came to it.

"Why, Sir," answered he, "it is the general opinion of the country, that the left wing of the castle, or rather a detached pavilion, which you see is almost enveloped by the trees, is haunted; and the reason is this; a state prisoner was once confined there, and, as the story goes, was murdered; one of my lord's ancestors had the care of him; 'tis an old and a foolish story, I think—but so it is, our old lord never permitted any one to live in it, and they do say that the present lord was once much frightened, for he and his lady disagreed, and he confined her for a time in that place, only going to her by day himself; how it was, I don't know, but he was frightened, as they say; so he took her away, and