ten o'clock
`` For it _ was so _ brave of her , you know , Richard , because she could not tell then that it was only poor Crazy Sall . '' Only poor Crazy Sall , returning half-tipsy from the public-house ! Cunning enough to know that in this condition she could not safely trust her unsteady , reeling steps over the narrow bridge , it had occurred to her on one occasion to crawl on her hands and knees . This once done , it was often repeated , and , as surely as the night was dark and she had freely indulged at the village inn , the Truslow ghost might be seen crossing the Kennet at ten o'clock . Each fresh beholder adding some gruesome detail to the dimly-seen form in its flapping sun-bonnet , the ghost bit by bit took shape , and at last was fully created . Who can tell how many years longer it might have lived but for Biddy 's scream and her master 's flashing lantern ? The whole village felt the discovery to be mortifying ; and after everyone had said that he , for one , had never given credit to the ghost , the subject was discreetly dropped .