“So would some of the rest of you,” said Lionel.  “I am sorry to hear that Dan is so ill.”

“Mr. Jan’s in a fine way over him, sir.  Mrs. Bascroft gave him just a taste of weak brandy and water, and Mr. Jan, when he come to know it, said we might just as well have give him pison; and he’d not answer for his life or his reason.  A pretty thing it’ll be for Deerham, if there’s more lives to be put in danger, now the ghost have took to walk again!  Mr. Bourne called in just now, sir, to learn the rights of it.  He went up and see Dan; but nothing could he make of him.  Would you be pleased to go up and take a look at him, sir?”

Lionel declined, and wished Mrs. Duff good-day.

He could do the boy no good, and had no especial wish to look at him, although he had been promoted to the notoriety of seeing a ghost.  A few steps farther he encountered Jan.

“What is it that’s the matter with the boy?” asked Lionel.

“He had a good fright; there’s no doubt about that,” replied Jan.  “Saw a white cow on its hind legs, it’s my belief.  That wouldn’t have been much.  The boy would have been all right by now, but the women drenched him with brandy, and made him stupidly drunk.  He’ll be better this evening.  I can’t stop, Lionel; I am run off my legs to-day.”

The commotion in the village increased as the evening approached.  Jan knew that young Dan would be well—­save for any little remembrance of the fright which might remain—­when the fumes of the brandy had gone off; But he wisely kept his own counsel, and let the public think he was in danger.  Otherwise, a second instalment of the brandy might have been administered behind Jan’s back.  To have a boy dying of fright from seeing a ghost was a treat in the marvellous line, which Deerham had never yet enjoyed.  There had been no agitation like unto it, since the day of poor Rachel Frost.

Brave spirits, some of them!  They volunteered to go out and meet the apparition.  As twilight approached you could not have got into Mrs. Duff’s shop, for there was the chief gathering.  Arguments were being used to prove that, according to all logic, if a ghost appeared one night, it was safe to appear a second.

“Who’ll speak up to go and watch for it?” asked Mrs. Duff.  “I can’t.  I can’t leave Dan.  Sally Green’s a-sitting up by him now; for Mr. Jan says if he’s left again, he shall hold me responsible.  It don’t stand to reason as I can leave Sally Green in charge of the shop, though I can leave her a bit with Dan.  Not but what I’d go alone to the pond, and stop there; I haven’t got no fear.”

It singularly happened that those who were kept at home by domestic or other duties, had no fear; they, to hear them talk, would rather have enjoyed an encounter solus with the ghost, than not.  Those who could plead no home engagement professed themselves willing to undertake the expedition in company; but freely avowed they would not go alone for the world.