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were excessively melancholy； and the site of which had been extremely ill
chosen。
It was easy to see that it was an avoided housea house that was
shunned by the village； to which my eye was guided by a church spire
some half a mile offa house that nobody would take。 And the natural
inference was； that it had the reputation of being a haunted house。
No period within the four…and…twenty hours of day and night is so
solemn to me； as the early morning。 In the summer…time； I often rise very
early； and repair to my room to do a day's work before breakfast； and I am
always on those occasions deeply impressed by the stillness and solitude
around me。 Besides that there is something awful in the being surrounded
by familiar faces asleepin the knowledge that those who are dearest to us
and to whom we are dearest； are profoundly unconscious of us； in an
impassive state； anticipative of that mysterious condition to which we are
all tendingthe stopped life； the broken threads of yesterday； the deserted
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seat； the closed book； the unfinished but abandoned occupation； all are
images of Death。 The tranquillity of the hour is the tranquillity of Death。
The colour and the chill have the same association。 Even a certain air that
familiar household objects take upon them when they first emerge from
the shadows of the night into the morning； of being newer； and as they
used to be long ago； has its counterpart in the subsidence of the worn face
of maturity or age； in death； into the old youthful look。 Moreover； I once
saw the apparition of my father； at this hour。 He was alive and well； and
nothing ever came of it； but I saw him in the daylight； sitting with his back
towards me； on a seat that stood beside my bed。 His head was resting on
his hand； and whether he was slumbering or grieving； I could not discern。
Amazed to see him there； I sat up； moved my position； leaned out of bed；
and watched him。 As he did not move； I spoke to him more than once。 As
he did not move then； I became alarmed and laid my hand upon his
shoulder； as I thoughtand there was no such thing。
For all these reasons； and for others less easily and briefly statable； I
find the early morning to be my most ghostly time。 Any house would be
more or less haunted； to me； in the early morning； and a haunted house
could scarcely address me to greater advantage than then。
I walked on into the village； with the desertion of this house upon my
mind； and I found the landlord of the little inn； sanding his door…step。 I
bespoke breakfast； and broached the subject of the house。
〃Is it haunted？〃 I asked。
The landlord looked at me； shook his head； and answered； 〃I say
nothing。〃
〃Then it IS haunted？〃
〃Well！〃 cried the landlord； in an outburst of frankness that had the
appearance of desperation〃I wouldn't sleep in it。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃If I wanted to have all the bells in a house ring； with nobody to ring
'em； and all the doors in a house bang； with nobody to bang 'em； and all
sorts of feet treading about； with no feet there； why； then；〃 said the
landlord； 〃I'd sleep in that house。〃
〃Is anything seen there？〃
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The landlord looked at me again； and then； with his former appearance
of desperation； called down his stable…yard for 〃Ikey！〃
The call produced a high…shouldered young fellow； with a round red
face； a short crop of sandy hair； a very broad humorous mouth； a turned…up
nose； and a great sleeved waistcoat of purple bars； with mother…of…pearl
buttons； that seemed to be growing upon him； and to be in a fair wayif it
were not prunedof covering his head and overunning his boots。
〃This gentleman wants to know；〃 said the landlord； 〃if anything's seen
at the Poplars。〃
〃'Ooded woman with a howl；〃 said Ikey； in a state of great freshness。
〃Do you mean a cry？〃
〃I mean a bird； sir。〃
〃A hooded woman with an owl。 Dear me！ Did you ever see her？〃
〃I seen the howl。〃
〃Never the woman？〃
〃Not so plain as the howl； but they always keeps together。〃
〃Has anybody ever seen the woman as plainly as the owl？〃
〃Lord bless you； sir！ Lots。〃
〃Who？〃
〃Lord bless you； sir！ Lots。〃
〃The general…dealer opposite； for instance； who is opening his shop？〃
〃Perkins？ Bless you； Perkins wouldn't go a…nigh the place。 No！〃
observed the young man； with considerable feeling； 〃he an't overwise； an't
Perkins； but he an't such a fool as THAT。〃
（Here； the landlord murmured his confidence in Perkins's knowing
better。）
〃Who isor who wasthe hooded woman with the owl？ Do you
know？〃
〃Well！〃 said Ikey； holding up his cap with one hand while he scratched
his head with the other； 〃they say； in general； that she was murdered； and
the howl he 'ooted the while。〃
This very concise summary of the facts was all I could learn； except
that a young man； as hearty and likely a young man as ever I see； had been
took with fits and held down in 'em； after seeing the hooded woman。 Also；
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that a personage； dimly described as 〃a hold chap； a sort of one…eyed
tramp； answering to the name of Joby； unless you challenged him as
Greenwood； and then he said； 'Why not？ and even if so； mind your own
business；'〃 had encountered the hooded woman； a matter of five or six
times。 But； I was not materially assisted by these witnesses： inasmuch as
the first was in California； and the last was； as Ikey said （and he was
confirmed by the landlord）； Anywheres。
Now； although I regard with a hushed and solemn fear； the mysteries；
between which and this state of existence is interposed the barrier of the
great trial and change that fall on all the things that live； and although I
have not the audacity to pretend that I know anything of them； I can no
more reconcile the mere banging of doors； ringing of bells； creaking of
boards； and such…like insignificances； with the majestic beauty and
pervading analogy of all the Div