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the ghosts?' William asked. 'Is there a monk?'
    'There are supposed to be three ghosts,' Ninian replied, 'but none of them are monks. One is a nun, or so the people who claim to have seen her say, for she wears long, full robes and a large headdress, and carries something which clicks together, like the beads of a rosary. There was a story in the village that one of the nuns was walled up for having a lover, and the villagers will have it that our nun is still somewhere in the walls which remain, and will not rest until her bones are found and given proper burial.'
    'How odious!' Diana said, shuddering. 'I hope your other ghosts are not treated so badly. What are they?'
    'They appear to be a pair. One is a soldier, dressed in doublet and hose and ruff as in Elizabeth's day, but he carries his head under his arm-'
    Lydia gave a little shriek. 'Oh, no! I do not like these ghosts!'
    Georgiana laughed. 'They are only stories, silly! Who is the other, Ninian?'
    'A female. She wears clothes of the same period and appears to be carrying a baby. The story is he was beheaded for refusing to attend the new church services, and is seeking for his wife and child, but cannot see and will never be able to find her. She is deaf and dumb and cannot cry out to lead him to her, and so they wander through the ruins of what it is believed was their home, passing one another but never able to make contact.'
    'That is horrible!' Lydia exclaimed.
    'Some of the villagers claim to have seen them both together.'
    'If he could not see because he was beheaded, then he would not be able to speak or hear either,' William said judiciously. 'It would not matter whether she could hear him or talk. I suppose she could see him?'
    Ninian laughed. 'So one would think, but it is all so confused, and who is to say what ghosts can do? A headless man would not be able to walk about! Mother Weaver claims she has seen them frequently, the female chasing after the man, and heard the baby crying, but whenever the woman is within reach the man vanishes. But Mother Weaver tells so many strange tales no one knows whether to believe that or not.'
    'Who is Mother Weaver?'
    'And old crone who lives in a tumbledown cottage a couple of miles away. Because she is ancient, and lives alone, and talks in a strange fashion, she is called a witch. I know several of the village girls go to her for love-potions, and no doubt later, if they work, they – well, they may go again,' he concluded lamely.
    'Why? Are her potions of no use?' Diana asked curiously. 'Or do they need more? I do not understand. I always thought one was sufficient.'
    'I expect they want things to keep them young, and beautiful,' William said hastily. 'Surely you do not believe in them anyway? Are you going to show us the cellars, Ninian?'
    'I will not go in them if the ghosts are supposed to walk there!' Lydia declared, her eyes round, and her cheeks flushed.
    'No, they all walk in the main part of the ruins, where the cloister remains are,' Ninian reassured her, and took her hand to lead her towards the entrance. Before they reached it the rest of the party, having had their refreshments in a more leisurely fashion, had joined them and Lydia forgot her fears while Georgiana and Diana, disclaiming belief in the stories, related them to Isabella and Mark.
    'I can assure you I have never seen a ghost!' Lord Fordington stated. 'Nor do I know of any reliable witness who has. The village lads come here occasionally, out of bravado, but they undoubtedly flee when a rabbit is disturbed and imagine they have escaped some dire peril!'
    Lady Fordington refused to descend the rough steps into the underground apartments, saying she had seen them once and that was enough for her, but the rest of the party explored them. Lit by several lanterns, they were surprisingly spacious, a long central corridor off which a number of large rooms opened. But there was nothing there, and Georgiana expressed the general feeling of anticlimax