human
Give me a hand, said I,
gpt
There's no other opening whatever, said he,
human
I warrant, sir, said he,
gpt
But was there any wind? I asked.
human
I do not remember that there was.
gpt
I can't say, said he;
human
I suppose there must have been some wind, said I,
gpt
I laughed.
human
So this marvellous spectral phenomenon receives a very prosaic and natural explanation. Mason, throw down the bough and we will burn it to-night.
gpt
Here is an illustration of the way in which weak-minded women get scared. Now we will burn the burglar or ghost that we saw. It turns out to be nothing but this branch, blown up and down the leads by the wind.
human
But, Edward, said my wife,
gpt
There must have been. Only where we were we were sheltered and did not observe it. Aloft, it blew across the roofs, and formed an eddy that caught the broken bough, lifted it, carried it first one way, then spun it round and carried it the reverse way. In fact, the wind between the two roofs assumed a spiral movement. I hope now you are all satisfied. I am.
human
Half a bottle would have been enough, Edward. Indeed, I think half a bottle would be too much; you should not give the girls a liking for sherry, it may lead to bad results. If it had been elderberry wine, that would have been different.
gpt
But there is no elderberry wine in the house,
human
Well, I hope no harm will come of it, but I greatly mistrust----
gpt
Please, sir, it is there again.
human
Nonsense, said I,
gpt
This comes of the sherry, observed my wife.
human
They will be seeing ghosts every night.
gpt
But, my dear, you saw it as well as myself!