and a clever woman's dangerous. "My mam's clever told him, annoyed at what he'd said. "But she's good too. Everything she does she does for the best. She uses her brains to help people. One year, when I was really small, the ghast son an Hangm's Hill frightened me so much that couldn't sleep. Mam went up there after dark and sheshut them up. They were quiet for months and months. could have added that, on our first morning together, the spook had told me that there wasn't much to be done about ghasts. And that Mam had proved him wrong. But didn't. bturted out too mu and it didn't need to be said.The spook didn't say anything. He was staring towards the house. Ask my mam what she thinks about Alice,' I suggested. "She seems to et on well with her."I was going to do that anyway,' said the Spook. "It's about we had a little talk. You wait hereuntil we're finished.' watched the spook cross the yard. Even before he reached it, the kitchen door opened and Mam welcomed him over the threshold Later, it was possible to work out some of the things that they'd said to each other, but they talked together for almost half an hour and I never did find out whether ghasts came into the conversation when the spook finally came out into the sunshine, Mam stayed in the doorway. He did somethingunusual then something I'd never seen him do before. At first l thought he'd nodded at Mam as hesaid goodbye, but was a bit more to than that. There was a movement of his shoulders too. It was slight but very definite so there was no doubt about it As he took leave of Mam, the Spook gave hera little When he crossed the yard towards me, he seemed to be smiling to himself. "I'll be off on my way back to Chipenden now,' he said, 'but I think your