By midnight, however, the old hall was silent; each of us had repaired to his room, and most, I expect, were quietly asleep, when a terrible scream was heard, after which there were shouts for help and hysterical cries.

The sounds seemed to come from the direction of the servants' hall, and, quickly putting on some clothes, I hurried thither.
I soon found that the noise had roused the whole household, and so, when I arrived, I found a number of the guests had gathered together.

On looking into the room, I saw that the housekeeper was lying in a swoon, one of the servants was in hysterics, while Simon Slowden, who was in the room, and the page boy looked as white as sheets, and were trembling evidently with fear.
"What does this mean ?" asked Tom Temple, a little angrily.
At this the housekeeper became conscious and said in a hoarse whisper, "Is she gone ?" "What?
Who do you mean ?" asked Tom.
"The hall lady," she said fearfully.
"We are all friends here," said Tom, and I thought I detected an amount of anxiety in his voice.
This appeared to assure the housekeeper, who got up and tried to collect her thoughts.

We all waited anxiously for her to speak.
"I have stayed up late, Mr.Temple," she said to Tom, "in order to arrange somewhat for the party you propose giving on Thursday.

The work had got behind, and so I asked two or three of the servants to assist me." She stopped here, as if at a loss how to proceed.
"Go on, Mrs.Richards; we want to know all.