"This morning, as I sat in the drawing-room, I heard the low,
monotonous voice of some one reading aloud. Knowing that Miss
Freer and Miss Langton were writing in the next room, I
concluded that Miss Freer must be dictating while Miss Langton
wrote for her, although I must say I did not recognise Miss
Freer's voice. This went on for about an hour. Soon after Miss
Langton came into the drawing-room, and I said, 'Well, you
_have_ been busy; I suppose Miss Freer has been dictating to
you?' She looked surprised and said, 'No, indeed she hasn't; we
have both been writing, and if Miss Freer spoke at all, it was
only a few words now and again.'" This low monotonous sound of a
human voice I afterwards heard once or twice in Room 3.
_March 24th, Wednesday._--Last night I heard a crash as of
something falling from the dome into the hall, about twenty
minutes to twelve.
At breakfast Colonel C---- said he had heard a loud thump on his
door at an early hour--before six, when wide awake.
Mr. W---- also had had an experience. He heard sounds outside
his room, and went to investigate. On returning he found the
kitten in his room, but, sceptic as he is, he acknowledged
freely that the kitten, a wee thing, could not have produced the
sounds he heard.
_Copy of letter from_ Mr. W---- _to_ Mr. MacP----.
"_March 24th, 1897._-- ... In case it may interest Miss Freer to
know what I thought of the noises I heard in No. 1 prior to the
kitten incident, the following states my recollections shortly:
The first noise was about half-past four, and resembled two
small explosions, such as a fire sometimes makes. They followed
one another closely, and came from the direction of the
fireplace or the south-west corner of the room. I got up and
looked at the fire, and it was all but out; but I would not like
to swear that the noises did not come from it.
"As to the other noise, it occurred about a quarter to six, and
was quite loud. It sounded as if one of the large, deer heads on
the staircase wall had fallen down and rolled a step or two. I
cannot understand how some of the others did not hear the noise,
but I heard and saw nothing when I went out of my room to see
what it was.
"I should add, that in this case, as well as in the former one,
I was awake when the noise occurred. If I had heard these noises
in any other house I would not have thought of noticing them,
but it might be curious to see if they are the same that have
been heard in that room already."
After breakfast I heard of a great excitement among the
servants, and taking Miss Langton with me, to serve as witness
and to take notes, I interviewed separately the three concerned,
as well as the cook, to whom they had told the story also. It is
worth while to mention that I have several times heard the
kitchenmaid complained of as lacking in respect for her
betters--in scoffing at their reports of phenomena. Only
yesterday Mrs. Robinson told me she had not mentioned several
things (bell-ringing, a knock at her door, &c.) because it upset
her authority in the kitchen to exhibit interest in such things.
All the stories were consistent, and no cross-questioning upset
the evidence. They were distinctly in earnest.
The three maids and a temporary servant, M----, belonging to the
district, went up to their rooms about 10.30. The two housemaids
sleep together [in Z], Lizzie, the kitchenmaid, separately, in a
room adjoining [in Y]. Directly after getting into bed all heard
knockings, and they called out between the rooms to each other.
Lizzie stayed awake, and looking up towards the ceiling had what
sounds like a hypna-gogic hallucination, of a cloud which
changed rapidly in colour, shape, and size, and alarmed her
greatly. Then she felt her clothes pulled off, but thought this
might be accidental, and tucked them in. Then she was sure they
were pulled off again, and screamed to the other maids. Neither
dared go to her, her screams were so terrifying; but they
finally opened the door of communication between the rooms, and
Carter went to fetch the temporary assistant from the other end
of the corridor, "because she was such a good-living girl"
(particular about fasting in Lent, I gather). The three then
returned for the kitchenmaid, and all spent the night in the
housemaid's room.
The upper housemaid went to Miss Langton's room this morning, I
hear, much upset and crying, and there can be no doubt of the
conviction of all the maids.
For the future they wish to occupy one room.
The cook, sleeping on the ground floor below No. 3, heard
footsteps and knockings, and awoke her husband, but he heard
nothing. She diagnosed it as being "about the door of Miss
'Duff's' room (No. 3 above). She thought it was outside of her
door, but was not sure. It was just after midnight.