 at the Warren. Let us keep it to
ourselves for the present time at all events, or we may get into trouble, and
Solomon may lose his place. Whether it was really as he says, or whether it
wasn't, is no matter. Right or wrong, nobody would believe him. As to the
probabilities, I don't myself think,« said Mr. Willet, eyeing the corners of the
room in a manner which showed that, like some other philosophers, he was not
quite easy in his theory, »that a ghost as had been a man of sense in his
lifetime, would be out a-walking in such weather - I only know that I wouldn't,
if I was one.«
    But this heretical doctrine was strongly opposed by the other three, who
quoted a great many precedents to show that bad weather was the very time for
such appearances; and Mr. Parkes (who had had a ghost in his family, by the
mother's side) argued the matter with so much ingenuity and force of
illustration, that John was only saved from having to retract his opinion by the
opportune appearance of supper, to which they applied themselves with a dreadful
relish. Even Solomon Daisy himself, by dint of the elevating influences of fire,
lights, brandy, and good company, so far recovered as to handle his knife and
fork in a highly creditable manner, and to display a capacity both of eating and
drinking, such as banished all fear of his having sustained any lasting injury
from his fright.
    Supper done, they crowded round the fire again, and, as is common on such
occasions, propounded all manner of leading questions calculated to surround the
story with new horrors and surprises. But Solomon Daisy, notwithstanding these
temptations, adhered so steadily to his original account, and repeated it so
often, with such slight variations, and with such solemn asseverations of its
truth and reality, that his hearers were (with good reason) more astonished than
at first. As he took John Willet's view of the matter in regard to the propriety
of not bruiting the tale abroad, unless the spirit should appear to him again,
in which case it would be necessary to take immediate counsel with the
clergyman, it was solemnly resolved that it should be hushed up and kept quiet.
And as most men like to have a secret to tell which may exalt their own
importance, they arrived at this conclusion with perfect unanimity.
    As it was by this time growing late, and was long past their usual hour of
separating, the cronies
