'You're out there: 'twas she told me; and much about it. Ghosts, indeed!
I don't vally them, not I; if I did, I know who'd frighten me,' and Milly
laughed.

The old woman stuffed the key in her pocket, and her wrinkled mouth pouted
and receded with a grim uneasiness.

'A harmless brat, and kind she is; but wild--wild--she will be wild.'

So whispered L'Amour in my ear, during the silence that followed, nodding
shakily toward Milly over the banister, and she courtesied again as we
departed, and shuffled off toward Uncle Silas's room.

The Governor is queerish this evening,' said Milly, when we were seated at
our tea. 'You never saw him queerish, did you?'

'You must say what you mean, more plainly, Milly. You don't mean ill, I
hope?'

'Well! I don't know what it is; but he does grow very queer
sometimes--you'd think he was dead a'most, maybe two or three days and
nights together. He sits all the time like an old woman in a swound. Well,
well, it is awful!'

'Is he insensible when in that state?' I asked, a good deal alarmed.

'I don't know; but it never signifies anything. It won't kill him, I do
believe; but old L'Amour knows all about it. I hardly ever go into the room
when he's so, only when I'm sent for; and he sometimes wakes up and takes a
fancy to call for this one or that. One day he sent for Pegtop all the way