Chapter 3

           Thenextmorning,whentheOtisfamilymetatbreakfast, theydiscussedtheghostatsomelength. TheUnitedStatesMinisterwasnaturallyalittleannoyed tofindthathispresenthadnotbeenaccepted. "Ihavenowish,"hesaid,"todotheghostanypersonalinjury, andImustsay that,consideringthelengthoftimehehasbeeninthehouse,Idon’tthinkitisatallpolitetothrowpillowsathim," —averyjustremark,atwhich,Iamsorrytosay,thetwinsburstintoshoutsoflaughter. "Upontheotherhand,"hecontinued, "ifhereallydeclinestousetheRisingSunLubricator, weshallhavetotakehischainsfromhim. Itwouldbequiteimpossibletosleep, withsuchanoisegoingonoutsidethebedrooms." 

           Fortherestoftheweek,however,theywereundisturbed, theonlythingthatexcitedanyattentionbeingthecontinualrenewaloftheblood-stainonthelibraryfloor. Thiscertainlywasverystrange, asthedoorwasalwayslockedatnightbyMr.Otis, andthewindowskeptcloselybarred. Thechameleon-likecolour,also,ofthestainexcitedagooddealofcomment. Somemorningsitwasadull(almostIndian)red,thenitwouldbevermilion, thenarichpurple, andoncewhentheycamedownforfamilyprayers,accordingtothesimpleritesoftheFreeAmericanReformedEpiscopalianChurch, theyfounditabrightemerald-green. Thesekaleidoscopicchangesnaturallyamusedthepartyverymuch, andbetsonthesubjectwerefreelymadeeveryevening. TheonlypersonwhodidnotenterintothejokewaslittleVirginia, who,forsomeunexplainedreason,wasalwaysagooddealdistressedatthesightoftheblood-stain, andverynearlycriedthemorningitwasemerald-green.