For do we not come into contact with the being of a man when we hear him pour forth his thoughts of the things he likes best to think about, into the ear of the universe?
In such a position does the book of a great man place us!--That was what I meant to convey to your sister." "And," said Mr.Graeme, "she was not such a goose as to fail of understanding you, however she may have chosen to put on the garb of stupidity." "I am sure," persisted Kate, "Mr.Grant talked so as to make me think he believed in necromancy and all that sort of thing!" "That may be," said Donal; "but I did not try to persuade you to believe." "Oh, if you hold me to the letter!" cried Miss Graeme, colouring a little.--"It would be impossible to get on with such a man," she thought, "for he not only preached when you had no pulpit to protect you from him, but stuck so to his text that there was no amusement to be got out of the business!" She did not know that if she could have met him, breaking the ocean-tide of his thoughts with fitting opposition, his answers would have come short and sharp as the flashes of waves on rocks.
"If Mr.Grant believes in such things," said Mr.Graeme, "he must find himself at home in the castle, every room of which way well be the haunt of some weary ghost!" "I do not believe," said Donal, "that any work of man's hands, however awful with crime done in it, can have nearly such an influence for belief in the marvellous, as the still presence of live Nature.

I never saw an old castle before--at least not to make any close acquaintance with it, but there is not an aspect of the grim old survival up there, interesting as every corner of it is, that moves me like the mere thought of a hill-side with the veil of the twilight coming down over it, making of it the last step of a stair for the descending foot of the Lord." "Surely, Mr.Grant, you do not expect such a personal advent!" said Miss Graeme.
"I should not like to say what I do or don't expect," answered Donal--and held his peace, for he saw he was but casting stumbling-blocks.
The silence grew awkward; and Mr.Graeme's good breeding called on him to say something; he supposed Donal felt himself snubbed by his sister.
"If you are fond of the marvellous, though, Mr.Grant," he said, "there are some old stories about the castle would interest you.

One of them was brought to my mind the other day in the town.

It is strange how superstition seems to have its ebbs and flows! A story or legend will go to sleep, and after a time revive with fresh interest, no one knows why." "Probably," said Donal, "it is when the tale comes to ears fitted for its reception.

They are now in many counties trying to get together and store the remnants of such tales: possibly the wind of some such inquiry may have set old people recollecting, and young people inventing.