that old man by the kitchen fire affirms he has seen
two on 'em, looking out of his chamber window, on
every rainy night since his death. And an odd thing
happened to me about a month ago. I was going to the
Grange one evening---a dark evening, threatening
thunder; and just at the turn of the Heights I encoun-
tered a little boy with a sheep and two lambs before
him. He was crying terribly, and I supposed the lambs
were skittish and would not be guided.
 
     "What is the matter, my little man?" I asked.

     "There's Heathcliff and a woman yonder, under
t' nab," he blubbered, "un I darnut pass 'em."

     I saw nothing; but neither the sheep nor he would
go on, so I bade him take the road lower down. He
probably raised the phantoms from thinking, as he
traversed the moors alone, on the nonsense he had heard
his parents and companions repeat. Yet, still I don't
like being out in the dark now, and I don't like being
left by myself in this grim house. I cannot help it. I
shall be glad when they leave it and shift to the Grange.

     "They are going to the Grange, then?" I said.

     "Yes," answered Mrs. Dean, "as soon as they are
married, and that will be on New Year's day."

     "And who will live here then?"

     "Why, Joseph will take care of the house, and per-
haps a lad to keep him company. They will live in the
kitchen, and the rest will be shut up."

     "For the use of such ghosts as choose to inhabit it,"
I observed.

     "No, Mr. Lockwood," said Nelly, shaking her head.

     "I believe the dead are at peace, but it is not right to
speak of them with levity."
 
     At that moment the garden gate swung to; the ram-
blers were returning.

     "They are afraid of nothing," I grumbled, watching
their approach through the window. "Together they
would brave Satan and all his legions."

     As they stepped on to the door-stones, and halted
to take a last look at the moon---or, more correctly, at
each other by her light ---I felt irresistibly impelled to
escape them again; and pressing a remembrance into
the hand of Mrs. Dean, and disregarding her expostu-
lations at my rudeness, I vanished through the kitchen
as they opened the house-door, and so should have
confirmed Joseph in his opinion of his fellow-servant's
gay indiscretions, had he not fortunately recognized
me for a respectable character by the sweet ring of a
sovereign at his feet.

     My walk home was lengthened by a diversion in the
direction of the kirk. When beneath its walls I perceived
decay had made progress, even in seven months. Many
a window showed black gaps deprived of glass, and
slates jutted off here and there beyond the right line
of the roof, to be gradually worked off in coming
autumn storms.

     I sought and soon discovered the three headstones
on the slope next the moor---the middle one gray, and
half buried in heath; Edgar Linton's only harmonized
by the turf and moss creeping up its foot; Heathcliff's
still bare.
 
     I lingered round them under that benign sky,
watched the moths fluttering among the heath and
harebells, listened to the soft wind breathing through
the grass, and wondered how any one could ever im-
agine unquiet slumbers for the sleepers in that quiet
earth.

			End

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