O Lord! have mercy on us!"
"Amen!" said Sir Norman, impatiently. "If fear has not taken
away your wits, my good sir, will you tell me what old ruin that
is I saw a little above here as I rode up?"
The man started from his trance of terror, and glanced, first at
the fiery eyes in the corner, and then at Sir Norman, in evident
trepidation of the question.
"That ruin, sir? You must be a stranger in this place, surely,
or you would not need to ask that question."
"Well, suppose I am a stranger? What then?"
"Nothing, sir; only I thought everybody knew everything about
that ruin."
"But I do not, you see? So fill your glass again, and while you
are drinking it, just tell me what that everything comprises."
Again the landlord glanced fearfully st the fiery eyes in the
corner, and again hesitated.
"Well!" exclaimed Sir Norman, at once surprised and impatient at
his taciturnity, "Can't you speak man? I want you to tell me all
about it."
"There is nothing to tell, sir," replied the host, goaded to
desperation. "It is an old, deserted ruin that's been here ever
since I remember; and that's all I know about it.
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