They had got up the spirit of the game again, and were going on
briskly, when they were all brought to a stand by the bell ringing for
the third time.
"Don't stop," cried Bessie: "go on with the game and take no notice
unless it rings again;" and as a leader who must show no fear she
chased her sisters round the kitchen, making them flee to avoid being
caught, when, as if in answer to her remark, the bell did ring again.
This was too much. They all ran to the door, but neither human being
nor ghost was to be seen.
"I say," said John to his brother, "you and I will go out and watch.
Edwin, you'll stay with the girls--they are frightened--and if the
bell rings again we'll see who does it."
"You have more need of Edwin than we have, John," Bessie said: "it
will take you all to catch a ghost."
"Come away, then," cried John; and he posted his sentinels at
different angles, where each could have his eye on the door. The girls
shut themselves in the house, and outside and in they awaited the
result.
There was no result.
Ordinary sentinels can pace to and fro to make the moments go more
quickly, but Edwin and John and William were compelled to stand
without speech or motion, as to betray their presence would have been
to defeat their purpose. At the end of half an hour their patience was
worn out, and they came to the conclusion that whoever was playing the
trick knew that they were watching; so they went in, and hardly were
they in and the door shut when the bell rang again.
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