Next I went out to the western garden and filled in my master’s grave, making it as tidy as possible. Then I went down on my knees and told him that I was sorry. I said it over and over again.

I knew he couldn’t hear me, of course. By now he would have passed through limbo and gone to the light, but it made me feel better.

I was already seated at the table when Jenny came into the kitchen. There were two place settings, and a large plate in the center held generous portions of bacon and eggs. A further side plate was heaped with thick slices of buttered bread.

“You’re late,” I told her. “The bell rang five minutes ago.”

“I’m sorry,” she said with a cheeky smile. “I’ll try to do better tomorrow.”

“I suppose it’s better than coming down to breakfast too early. I did that my very first morning in this house and got my ears boxed by the boggart!”

She nodded, sat down, and helped herself to bacon and eggs. Then, before she took her first mouthful, she looked me in the eye, a serious expression on her face.

“I will still be here tomorrow, won’t I? You really did mean it about taking me on as your apprentice?”

“Yes, I meant it, but I’m giving you a month’s trial. You have to pass a test first to convince me that you’re up to the job.”

I had decided to treat her as my master had treated me—and the apprentices before me. We’d had a month to prove ourselves. The test was to see if we were brave enough to face the dark.

“So we’re going to the haunted house?”

“You know about that?” I asked, gazing at her in astonishment. “How did you find that out?”

“Easy!” she said mischievously. “Lots of boys failed the test. I talked to one of them—of course he’s a man now, with sons of his own. He couldn’t remember the name of the town where the house was, though. Somewhere south of here, isn’t it?”

“It’s in a place called Horshaw—but first we should go and see your parents.”

“Do we have to visit my mam and dad?” Jenny asked, her face downcast.

“We do. We must do things properly. I have to explain to them what it means to become my apprentice.”

Jenny gave a big sigh of exasperation, but said no more. I wondered why visiting her parents bothered her, but I let it go for now.

“What’s your second name?” I asked.

“Calder,” she replied.

“And where is your home?”

“Just north of Grimsargh.”

Grimsargh was about five miles south of the Long Ridge, so we could get there and back long before nightfall. It would make for a pleasant stroll, and I wanted to get this done before starting Jenny’s training.

As we walked, I thought over what I might have gotten myself into. Taking Jenny on as my apprentice would change my life significantly. It would end my loneliness, true, but on the other hand, it would mean a lot of extra work and responsibility.