The amount of tobacco which he had smoked since his return to these parts, exactly in that spot, was considerable, for there he might have been found at some period of the afternoon at least three times a week.

He would sit on this rail for half an hour looking down at the sluggish waters of the little river, rolling the smoke out of his mouth at long intervals, and thinking perhaps of the great book which he was supposed to be writing.

As he sat there now, he suddenly heard voices and laughter, and presently three girls came round the corner of the hedge, which, at this spot, hid the Dillsborough path,--and he saw the attorney's three daughters.
"It's Mr.Morton," said Dolly in a whisper.
"He's always walking about Bragton," said Kate in another whisper.
"Tony Tuppett says that he's the Bragton ghost." "Kate," said Mary, also in a low voice, "you shouldn't talk so much about what you hear from Tony Tuppett." "Bosh!" said Kate, who knew that she could not be scolded in the presence of Mr.Morton.
He came forward and shook hands with them all, and took off his hat to Mary.

"You've walked a long way, Miss Masters," he said.
"We don't think it far.

I like sometimes to come and look at the old place." "And so do I.I wonder whether you remember how often I've sat you on this rail and threatened to throw you into the river ?" "I remember very well that you did threaten me once, and that I almost believed that you would throw me in." "What had she done that was naughty, Mr.Morton ?" asked Kate.
"I don't think she ever did anything naughty in those days.