He was no longer our tame , domestic , well acquainted Paddy . He was a strange , furtive animal -- a `` questing beast . '' Presently the moon rose ; but this only made matters worse . The shadows had been still before ; now they moved and danced , as the night wind tossed the boughs . The old house , with its dreadful secret , was white and clear against the dark background of spruces . We were woefully tired , but we could not sit down because the grass was reeking with dew . `` The Family Ghost only appears in daylight , '' said the Story Girl . `` I would n't mind seeing a ghost in daylight . But after dark is another thing . '' `` There 's no such thing as a ghost , '' I said contemptuously . Oh , how I wished I could believe it ! `` Then what rung that bell ? '' said Peter . `` Bells do n't ring of themselves , I s ` pose , specially when there ai n't any in the house to ring . '' `` Oh , will Uncle Roger never come home ! '' sobbed Felicity . `` I know he 'll laugh at us awful , but it 's better to be laughed at than scared like this . '' Uncle Roger did not come until nearly ten . Never was there a more welcome sound than the rumble of his wheels in the lane . We ran to the orchard gate and swarmed across the yard , just as Uncle Roger alighted at the front door .
He stared at us XXXXX the moonlight .
across as at because in of than that to with