I said nothing of the ghosts , being ashamed to own that I quaked a little at the idea of the `` back bedroom , '' as I shut out the friendly faces and bolted myself in . A lamp and matches stood in the hall , and lighting the lamp , I whisked up stairs with suspicious rapidity , locked my door and retired to bed , firmly refusing to own even to myself that I had ever heard the name of Bezee Tucker . Being very tired , I soon fell asleep ; but fried potatoes and a dozen or two of hot clams are not viands best fitted to insure quiet repose , so a fit of nightmare brought me to a realizing sense of my indiscretion . From a chaos of wild dreams was finally evolved a gigantic clam , whose mission it was to devour me as I had devoured its relatives . The sharp shells gaped before me , a solemn voice said , `` Take her by her little head and eat her quick . '' Retribution was at hand , and , with a despairing effort to escape by diving , I bumped my head smartly against the wall , and woke up feeling as if there was an earthquake under the bed . Collecting my scattered wits , I tried to compose myself to slumber again ; but alas ! that fatal feast had murdered sleep , and I vainly tried to lull my wakeful senses with the rustle of woodbine leaves about the window , and the breaking waves upon the beach . In one of the pauses between the ebb and flow of the waves , I heard a curious sound in the house , -- a muffled sort of moan , coming at regular intervals . And , as I sat up to make out where it was , another sound caught my attentive ear . Drip , drip , drip , went something out in the hall , and in an instant the tale told me on Sunset Hill came back with unpleasant vividness . `` Nonsense ! it is raining , and the roof leaks , '' I said to myself , while a disagreeable thrill went through me , and fancy , aided by indigestion , began to people the house with uncanny inmates . No rain had fallen for weeks , and peeping through my curtain I saw the big , bright stars shining in a cloudless sky ; so that explanation failed , and still the drip , drip , drip went on . Likewise the moaning , so distinctly now that it was evident the little back bedroom was next the chamber in which I was quaking at that identical moment . `` Some one is sleeping there , '' I said , and then recollected that all the rooms were locked , and all the keys but mine in Mrs. Grant 's pocket up at the house . `` Well , let the goblins enjoy themselves ; I wo n't disturb them if they let me alone . Some of the ladies thought me brave to dare to sleep here , and it will never do to own I was scared by a foolish story and an odd sound . '' So down I lay , and said the multiplication table industriously for several minutes , trying to turn a deaf ear to the outer world , and curb my unruly thoughts . But it was a failure , and , when I found myself saying over and over `` Four times twelve is twenty-four , '' I gave up affecting courage , and went in for a good honest scare .
As a cheerful subject for midnight meditation I kept thinking of B. XXXXX , in spite of every effort to abstain .
Grant Hill Retribution Tucker earthquake indiscretion moaning murdered viands woodbine