midnight
But the fear of encountering some one in the passage , caused her to remain silent . She listened , and distinctly heard the voices of several persons conversing in a low tone . A few moments elapsed , all was silent ; she then retired , but not to rest ; the circumstances which had taken place that night , together with the fact that the disturbance had caused no excitement in the family , gave Fostina great cause for alarm . She lay in breathless anxiety until past midnight , when she heard the same persons ascend from below , and take their departure . At an early hour the next morning Fostina entered the hall , where she met Mrs. Cameron , and inquired into the mystery of the proceedings the evening previous . She informed her that report had long been current that the castle was haunted , and as she had often heard the same disturbance during the night , she was confirmed in the belief that it was so . Fostina could scarcely credit this intelligence , but made no farther inquiries upon the subject .