Wewentinside。Anoldwomanwithverywhitehairwasinchargeoftheplaceandcringedratherobviouslytothenewmaster。Sheevidentlyfoundhimaverystrangeandfrightfulapparitionindeed，andwasdreadfullyafraidofhim。Butifthesurvivingpresentboweddowntous，thepastdidnot。Westooduptothedark，longportraitsoftheextinguishedrace——onewasaHolbein——andlookedthemintheirsidelongeyes。Theylookedbackatus。Weall，Iknow，felttheenigmaticalqualityinthem。Evenmyunclewasmomentarilyembarrassed，Ithink，bythatinvinciblyself-complacentexpression。Itwasjustasthough，afterall，hehadnotboughtthemupandreplacedthemaltogether；asthoughthat，secretly，theyknewbetterandcouldsmileathim。

　　ThespiritoftheplacewasakintoBladesover，buttouchedwithsomethingolderandremoter。Thatarmourthatstoodabouthadonceservedintilt-yards，ifindeedithadnotservedinbattle，andthisfamilyhadsentitsbloodandtreasure，timeaftertime，uponthemostromanticquestinhistory，toPalestine。Dreams，loyalties，placeandhonour，howutterlyhaditallevaporated，leaving，atlast，thefinalexpressionofitsspirit，thesequaintpaintedsmiles，thesesmilesoftriumphantcompletion！Ithadevaporated，indeed，longbeforetheultimateDurganhaddied，andinhisoldagehehadcumberedtheplacewithEarlyVictoriancushionsandcarpetsandtapestrytable-clothsandinvalidappliancesofatypeevenmoreextinct，itseemedtous，thanthecrusades。Yes，itwasdifferentfromBladesover。

　　“Bitstuffy，George。”saidmyuncle。“Theyhadn’tmuchideaofventilationwhenthiswasbuilt。”

　　Oneofthepanelledroomswashalf-filledwithpressesandafour-posterbed。“Mightbetheghostroom。”saidmyuncle；butitdidnotseemtomethatsoretiringafamilyastheDurgans，sooldandcompletelyexhaustedafamilyastheDurgans，waslikelytohauntanybody。Whatlivingthingnowhadanyconcernwiththeirhonourandjudgmentsandgoodandevildeeds？Ghostsandwitchcraftwerealaterinnovation——thatfashioncamefromScotlandwiththeStuarts。

　　Afterwards，pryingforepitaphs，wefoundamarblecrusaderwithabrokennose，underabatteredcanopyoffrettedstone，outsidetherestrictedlimitsofthepresentDuffieldchurch，andhalfburiedinnettles。“Ichabod。”saidmyuncle。“Eh？Weshallbelikethat，Susan，someday。I’mgoingtocleanhimupabitandputarailingtokeepoffthechildren。”

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