724 
Zerub ThroojZs Experiment. 
though. I told him it would have who had kept house there ; and she 
to come and hit upon us ; we couldn’t went up with us, and showed it. 
afford to go after it any more. “ It’s in good order,” she said ; “ the 
Things do come and hit you if you front part’s clean, because it ain’t 
only stand still because you must, — never been dirtied ; and the back 
not because you’re lazy. part’s clean, because I done the 
One day, at the counting-room, Mr. scrubbin’ .” 
Haughton was asking Eylett after his There was one real lovely room 
family. Eylett told him he was get- across the ell, up-stairs, at the end. 
ting along 5 but they needed a change, Four windows, — east, south, and 
and it was not easy to make a plan west, — the sun and the soft wind just 
that would suit in all ways. rioting through. 
Take a house a little way out of “0 Eylett!” I cried, standing in 
town,” said Mr. Haughton. the middle, “ here’s the summer-time 
“ b’ ve been trying to,” said Eylett; and the beauty! Here’s the life of 
but the house I want doesn’t seem the house ! ” 
to be anywhere.” “Yes’m,” said Mrs. Hand, “here’s 
One of the boys came in from the where ’twas. But I’ll tell you what, 
bank just then, and heard it. ’tain’t more’n fair to let you know: 
I know of a house, Mr. Bright,” I don’t believe it’s all gone out of it. 
he said ; “ but it’s rather a queer one, I don’t believe , in my soul, Zerub’ s 
up over the hill, out of our village; done with it ! ” 
and to let cheap, I guess. Old Zerub She spoke in a hushed way, as if 
Throop’s. , He’s dead, and things there might be some one listening, 
aren’t to be touched for five years. “ Done with it ? He’s dead ! ” 
But the house can be hired just as it “ Yes’m; that’s just why you can’t 
is, if anybody likes. It is a jolly big tell. I staid here a month after- 
one, and an old garden and fields all wards, and I had — well — experien- 
round it. Why don’t you come out ces. If I was you, I’d shet it up.” 
and see it?” “Shut it up! I shall put the 
Eylett guessed he would. children into it.” 
And so, one day, we went out to “ That may do. Maybe he’ll quit 
Bintheroote. them.” 
Why, you see, it was splendid ! I had my doubts about that conclu- 
All that great hill, and the sunrise on sion, if I hadn’t about the ghost. I 
one side, and the sunset the other ! couldn’t think, if he wanted to come* 
But, as to the house, it seemed as if at all, that old Zerub, or any other 
the day had always had to climb over rational spirit, would come back the 
and round it, and had never shone less for — you needn’t laugh, Dutton ; 
through it. Such a musty, shady, I don’t care if they are mine ! 
lo-from-the-tombs old place you never “ See here, my good woman ! ” savs 
got into ! The front door was all Eylett turning round sharp, “ I 
grown up with weeds and vines. It can’t come here if my servants and 
was tall and narrow, with an old- children are to get hold of this non- 
fashioned fan-light over it. It looked sense. Has it been talked round in 
as if nothing had ever gone in and the village ? ” 
out but coffins, I told Eylett. “Not from me ; I’ve held my tongue 
We found a woman in the village too long for Zerub to begin chatter- 
