Room 1 and 2. Myself and Miss Moore.
" 3. Mr. F----.
" 4. Miss Langton.
" 5. Mrs. W----.
" 6 and 7. Empty.
" 8. Colonel Taylor.
Miss Moore lay awake nearly the whole night. She heard, though
in less degree, the old noises; and in the early morning
(compare our first night) heard the sound of women's voices
talking. When I awoke, about 6 A.M., she told me she had been
disturbed, and said she feared that the others had also, as she
had heard Mrs. W---- talking in Miss Langton's room.
At breakfast Mrs. W---- reported that she had been awakened by
knockings, but had never moved. Miss Langton had heard nothing.
The Colonel reported that about, or just before, six he had
heard footsteps over his head. There is no room over No. 8,
which is mostly a built-out bow, and the servants had not moved
before 6.30. (If they moved then, it was contrary to their
habits!) We heard later that Hannah had gone, about 6.30, "in
her stocking-feet, only without her stockings," to ask the time
at the cook's door.
The Colonel (before our inquiries) had imitated the noise by
stamping heavily with striding steps across the library.
_February 11th, Thursday._--The Colonel moved down into "Miss
B----'s room" in the wing, and Mr. F---- into the room next to
him.
_February 12th, Friday._--No phenomena. The great business
to-day, which we had specially reserved for the Colonel's
arrival, was the making of sketches and measurements for the
plan of the house. We found no mysteries. The walls are
immensely thick, but all the space is accounted for.
_February 13th, Saturday._--Miss Moore slept very badly again
last night. She heard the noises at intervals between three and
five; she was awake before and after. They were loudest and most
frequent after four. At 5.30 I was awakened by a loud crash as
of something falling very heavily on the floor above. The maids
sleep there, but can give no account of any fall. Miss Moore, of
course, heard it as, and when, I did.
Mrs. W---- reports having heard loud raps. She thinks the noise
may have wakened her, but after she was awake enough to get a
light and look at her watch (3.40) she heard what she describes
as "a double knock."
_February 14th, Sunday._--Our first wet day. The weather so far
has been perfect. We all got very wet coming from church.
In the evening we did various experiments--thought-transference,
crystal gazing, &c.--but nothing came of it in regard to the
house.
_February 15th, Monday._--Mr. F---- left early.
We all walked to the Parish Church, and had some talk with the
sexton, and I had to listen to long yarns about the Major (see
under date February 9th). I was tired, and could not go to the
copse.
In the evening we played games, and were very lively. Miss
Langton came into my room for a few minutes, and was certainly
not in any nervous condition, nor did we speak of the hauntings.
But this morning (Tuesday) at breakfast she reported having
heard a loud crash almost directly after getting to her room. We
considered possible causes, but could not discover that any one
was moving in the house. The servants had gone to bed some time
earlier, and we had put out the lights ourselves in the hall and
on the stairs.
_February 16th, Tuesday._--I had an experience this morning
which may have been purely subjective, but which should be
recorded. About 10 A.M. I was writing in the library, face to
light, back to fire. Mrs. W---- was in the room, and addressed
me once or twice; but I was aware of not being responsive, as I
was much occupied. I wrote on, and presently felt a distinct,
but gentle, push against my chair. I thought it was the dog and
looked down, but he was not there. I went on writing, and in a
few minutes felt a push, firm and decided, against myself which
moved me on my chair. I thought it was Mrs. W----, who, having
spoken and obtained no answer, was reminding me of her presence.
I looked backward with an exclamation--the room was empty. She
came in directly, and called my attention to the dog, who was
gazing intently from the hearthrug at the place where I had
expected (before) to see him.
As the day began with the above, and I had had a quiet rest, I
went to the copse at dusk. The moon was bright, and the twilight
lingered. We waited about in the avenue to let it get darker,
but it was still far from dark when we made our way up the
glen--Miss Moore, Miss Langton, and myself.
I saw "Ishbel" and "Marget" in the old spot across the burn.
"Ishbel" was on her knees in the attitude of weeping, "Marget"
apparently reasoning with her in a low voice, to which "Ishbel"
replied very occasionally. I could not hear what was said for
the noise of the burn. We waited for perhaps ten or fifteen
minutes. They had appeared when I had been there perhaps three
or four.
When we regained the avenue (in silence) Miss Moore asked Miss
Langton, "What did you see?" (She had been told nothing, except
that the Colonel, who did not know details then, had said in
her presence something about "a couple of nuns".) She said, "I
saw nothing, but I heard a low talking." Questioned further, she
said it seemed close behind. The glen is so narrow, that this
might be quite consistent with what I saw and heard. Miss Moore
heard a murmuring voice, and is quite certain it was not the
burn. She is less suggestible than almost any one I know.
The dog ran up while we were there, pointed, and ran straight
for the two women. He afterwards left us, and we found him
barking in the glen. He is a dog who hardly ever barks. We went
up among the trees where he was, and could find no cause.
Miss Moore and I moved into No. 8 (dressing-room No. 6). It is a
"suspect" room, which I had not tried, and Miss Moore had
scarcely slept all the week in No. 1, and was looking so worn
out, that I decided to move.
_February 17th, Wednesday._--A most glorious day, still, bright,
and sunny.
Nothing happened till evening. The Colonel, Mrs. W----, Miss
Langton, Miss Moore, and I were in the drawing-room after
dinner. Some of us, certainly the last four, heard footsteps
overhead in No. 1, which is just now disused. I was lying on the
sofa, and could not get up quickly: but Mrs. W---- and Miss
Langton ran up at once, and found it empty and dark, and no one
about.
Later, about 10.30, we all five heard the clang noise with which
some of us are so familiar. The servants had gone to bed--or so
we presumed, as all lights were out, except on the upper floor.
It occurred four times. It is of course conceivable they may
have made it, but we do not hear it when we know them to be
about, and we do hear it when we know them not to be about.