baronet almost stand on end.

"What the devil is that?" asked the squire. "By the great Boyne, I fear
some one has been listening after all."

The Rapparee, always apprehensive of the "authorities," started behind
a screen, and the baronet, although unconscious of any cause for terror,
stood rather undecided. The sneeze, however, was repeated, and this time
it was a double one.

"Curse it, Sir Robert," said the squire, "have you not the use of your
legs? Go and see whether there has been an eavesdropper"

"Yes, Mr. Folliard," replied the doughty baronet, "but your house has
the character of being haunted; and I have a terror of ghosts."

The squire himself got up, and, seizing a candle, went outside the door,
but nothing in human shape was visible.

"Come here, Sir Robert," said he, "that sneeze came from no ghost, I'll
swear. Who ever heard of a ghost sneezing? Never mind, though; for the
curiosity of the thing I will examine for myself, and return to you in a
few minutes."

He accordingly left them, and in a short time came back, assuring them
that every one in the house was in a state of the most profound repose,
and that it was his opinion it must have been a cat.

"I might think so myself," observed the baronet, "were it not for
the double sneeze. I am afraid, Mr. Folliard, that the report is too