Oracles, however, are not always to be trusted.
One day Mrs.Griggs went away from the Dale place with a very curious story, which she diligently spread far and wide.

It made a good deal of talk, but people, although they listened eagerly, and wondered and questioned, were rather incredulous about it.

They thought Mrs.Griggs must be drawing considerably upon her imagination; there were not lacking those who declared that she had invented the whole account, since her reputation for strict veracity was not wholly unquestioned.
Mrs.Griggs's story was as follows:-- One day she found the door of the west gable unlocked.

She went in, expecting to see bare walls and a collection of odds and ends.

Instead she found herself in a finely furnished room.