A GHOST-STORY. 403 



However, there it stood, gigantic in its dimensions 

 40 feet at least in height, suspended in mid-air, each 

 fold of every garment quite distinct, and the whole 

 in an attitude of benediction, just like that we see 

 sculptured on ancient monumental brasses ! 



Had the phantom vanished suddenly, or been more 

 evanescent than it was, I certainly should have been 

 converted to my pretty cousins' faith in the actuality 

 of Ladv Hilda^s nocturnal visitations to her beloved 



v 



Whitby ; but, fortunately, there the figure stood, and 

 challenged observation, which soon made the matter 

 plain enough. The moon was just behind the Abbey's 

 oriel window, the rich tracery of which the stony 

 framework where the glass has been (as I took pains 

 to convince myself afterwards by daylight) presents 

 the exact outline of the aerial figure, while in front of 

 the window, the damp mists of evening formed the 

 screen on which the image magnified was thrown. A 

 more complete magic-lantern could not have been 

 constructed : the unclouded moon, then nearly at her 

 full, was the light, the oriel window the slide, the 

 misty cloud in front the screen, and myself, to my 

 great gratification, the spectator a more striking 

 phantasmagoria was perhaps never witnessed ; and 

 doubtless many a belated passenger, whose super- 

 stitious fears preponderated over his knowledge of 

 optics, has, under favourable circumstances, had his 

 faith confirmed in the Ghost of St. Hilda, and her 

 attachment to those beautiful ruins. 



We have not, however, on the present occasion 

 climbed thus high for the purpose of enjoying such 

 ghostly interviews with the departed; our business 



