sensitiveness of nerves and imagination?

We came to the conclusion that it would be best to watch the outside
of the house, rather than within the chamber; and the dinner-party
facilitated this, since it accounted for being up and about nearer
to the hour when the ghost might be expected. Egress could be had
through the little garden door, and I undertook to sit up and keep
up the fire.

All three came to my room on their return home, for Emily had become
aware of our scheme, and entreated to be allowed to watch with us.
Clarence had unfastened the alarum bell from my shutters, and taken
down the bar after the curtains had been drawn by the housemaid, and
he now opened them. It was a frosty moonlight night, and the lawn
lay white and crisp, marked with fantastic shadows. The others
looked grave and pale, Emily was in a thick white shawl and hood,
with a swan's down boa over her black dress, a somewhat ghostly
figure herself, but we were in far too serious a mood for light
observations.

There was something of a shudder about Clarence as he went to unbolt
the back door; Martyn kept close to him. We saw them outside, and
then Emily flew after them. From my window I could watch them
advancing on the central gravel walk, Emily standing still between
her brothers, clasping an arm of each. I saw the light near the
ruin, and caught some sounds as of shrieks and of threatening
voices, the light flitted towards the gable of the mullion rooms,
and then was the concluding scream. All was over, and the three
came back much agitated, Emily sinking into an armchair, panting,
her hands over her face, and a nervous trembling through her whole