THE FIRE ISLANDS. 91 



of man than I am of his ghost, and of his spirit than 

 of all the other spirits and mysterious forms of air 

 that walk the earth or sea. Besides, I should not 

 have got up had a dozen carriages arrived ; for if the 

 fairies or more sullen ghosts choose to take a drive 

 such a wild and stormy night as that, they were wel- 

 come to their taste. I had certainly no objection to 

 their taking their own mode of amusing themselves, 

 provided they kept out of doors. 



But it is strange how strong the superstitious feel- 

 ing is in man. Some of the best and strongest- 

 minded men I have ever known have been subject to 

 fears that a child should be ashamed of. To see the 

 moon over the left shoulder will bring bad luck, and a 

 journey commenced on Friday will end unfortunately. 

 So do men, sensible men, talk. A few rats between 

 the walls, or confined air creeping through some 

 aperture in the building, will drive a lady into con- 

 vulsions. 



