第1章

Contents： IntroductoryHowtheStoriescametobetoldTeddyBiffles’Story——JohnsonandEmily；or，theFaithfulGhostInterlude——TheDoctor’sStoryMr。Coombe’sStory——TheHauntedMill；or，theRuinedHomeInterludeMyUncle’sStory——TheGhostoftheBlueChamberAPersonalExplanationMyOwnStoryINTRODUCTORY ItwasChristmasEve。 Ibeginthiswaybecauseitistheproper，orthodox，respectablewaytobegin，andIhavebeenbroughtupinaproper，orthodox，respectableway，andtaughttoalwaysdotheproper，orthodox，respectablething；andthehabitclingstome。 Ofcourse，asamerematterofinformationitisquiteunnecessarytomentionthedateatall。TheexperiencedreaderknowsitwasChristmasEve，withoutmytellinghim。ItalwaysisChristmasEve，inaghoststory，ChristmasEveistheghosts’greatgalanight。OnChristmasEvetheyholdtheirannualfete。OnChristmasEveeverybodyinGhostlandwhoISanybody——orrather，speakingofghosts，oneshouldsay，Isuppose，everynobodywhoISanynobody——comesouttoshowhimselforherself，toseeandtobeseen，topromenadeaboutanddisplaytheirwinding—sheetsandgrave—clothestoeachother，tocriticiseoneanother’sstyle，andsneeratoneanother’scomplexion。 \"ChristmasEveparade，\"asIexpecttheythemselvestermit，isafunction，doubtless，eagerlypreparedforandlookedforwardtothroughoutGhostland，especiallytheswaggerset，suchasthemurderedBarons，thecrime—stainedCountesses，andtheEarlswhocameoverwiththeConqueror，andassassinatedtheirrelatives，anddiedravingmad。 Hollowmoansandfiendishgrinsare，onemaybesure，energeticallypractisedup。Blood—curdlingshrieksandmarrow—freezinggesturesareprobablyrehearsedforweeksbeforehand。Rustychainsandgorydaggersareover—hauled，andputintogoodworkingorder；andsheetsandshrouds，laidcarefullybyfromthepreviousyear’sshow，aretakendownandshakenout，andmended，andaired。 Oh，itisastirringnightinGhostland，thenightofDecemberthetwenty—fourth！ GhostsnevercomeoutonChristmasnightitself，youmayhavenoticed。ChristmasEve，wesuspect，hasbeentoomuchforthem； theyarenotusedtoexcitement。ForaboutaweekafterChristmasEve，thegentlemenghosts，nodoubt，feelasiftheywereallhead，andgoaboutmakingsolemnresolutionstothemselvesthattheywillstopinnextChristmasEve；whileladyspectresarecontradictoryandsnappish，andliabletoburstintotearsandleavetheroomhurriedlyonbeingspokento，fornoperceptiblecausewhatever。 Ghostswithnopositiontomaintain——meremiddle—classghosts—— occasionally，Ibelieve，doalittlehauntingonoff—nights：onAll—hallowsEve，andatMidsummer；andsomewillevenrunupforamerelocalevent——tocelebrate，forinstance，theanniversaryofthehangingofsomebody’sgrandfather，ortoprophesyamisfortune。 Hedoesloveprophesyingamisfortune，doestheaverageBritishghost。Sendhimouttoprognosticatetroubletosomebody，andheishappy。Lethimforcehiswayintoapeacefulhome，andturnthewholehouseupsidedownbyforetellingafuneral，orpredictingabankruptcy，orhintingatacomingdisgrace，orsomeotherterribledisaster，aboutwhichnobodyintheirsenseswanttoknowsoonertheycouldpossiblyhelp，andthepriorknowledgeofwhichcanservenousefulpurposewhatsoever，andhefeelsthatheiscombiningdutywithpleasure。Hewouldneverforgivehimselfifanybodyinhisfamilyhadatroubleandhehadnotbeenthereforacoupleofmonthsbeforehand，doingsillytricksonthelawn，orbalancinghimselfonsomebody’sbed—rail。 Thenthereare，besides，theveryyoung，orveryconscientiousghostswithalostwilloranundiscoverednumberweighingheavyontheirminds，whowillhauntsteadilyalltheyearround；andalsothefussyghost，whoisindignantathavingbeenburiedinthedust—binorinthevillagepond，andwhonevergivestheparishasinglenight’squietuntilsomebodyhaspaidforafirst—classfuneralforhim。 Butthesearetheexceptions。AsIhavesaid，theaverageorthodoxghostdoeshisoneturnayear，onChristmasEve，andissatisfied。 WhyonChristmasEve，ofallnightsintheyear，Inevercouldmyselfunderstand。Itisinvariablyoneofthemostdismalofnightstobeoutin——cold，muddy，andwet。Andbesides，atChristmastime，everybodyhasquiteenoughtoputupwithinthewayofahousefuloflivingrelations，withoutwantingtheghostsofanydeadonesmooningabouttheplace，Iamsure。 TheremustbesomethingghostlyintheairofChristmas——somethingabouttheclose，muggyatmospherethatdrawsuptheghosts，likethedampnessofthesummerrainsbringsoutthefrogsandsnails。 AndnotonlydotheghoststhemselvesalwayswalkonChristmasEve，butlivepeoplealwayssitandtalkaboutthemonChristmasEve。 WheneverfiveorsixEnglish—speakingpeoplemeetroundafireonChristmasEve，theystarttellingeachotherghoststories。 NothingsatisfiesusonChristmasEvebuttoheareachothertellauthenticanecdotesaboutspectres。Itisagenial，festiveseason，andwelovetomuseupongraves，anddeadbodies，andmurders，andblood。 Thereisagooddealofsimilarityaboutourghostlyexperiences； butthisofcourseisnotourfaultbutthefaultghosts，whoneverwilltryanynewperformances，butalwayswillkeepsteadilytoold，safebusiness。Theconsequenceisthat，whenyouhavebeenatoneChristmasEveparty，andheardsixpeoplerelatetheiradventureswithspirits，youdonotrequiretohearanymoreghoststories。Tolistentoanyfurtherghoststoriesafterthatwouldbelikesittingouttwofarcicalcomedies，ortakingintwocomicjournals；therepetitionwouldbecomewearisome。 Thereisalwaystheyoungmanwhowas，oneyear，spendingtheChristmasatacountryhouse，and，onChristmasEve，theyputhimtosleepinthewestwing。Theninthemiddleofthenight，theroomdoorquietlyopensandsomebody——generallyaladyinhernight—dress——walksslowlyin，andcomesandsitsonthebed。Theyoungmanthinksitmustbeoneofthevisitors，orsomerelativeofthefamily，thoughhedoesnotrememberhavingpreviouslyseenher，who，unabletogotosleep，andfeelinglonesome，allbyherself，hascomeintohisroomforachat。Hehasnoideaitisaghost：heissounsuspicious。Shedoesnotspeak，however；and，whenhelooksagain，sheisgone！ Theyoungmanrelatesthecircumstanceatthebreakfast—tablenextmorning，andaskseachoftheladiespresentifitwereshewhowashisvisitor。Buttheyallassurehimthatitwasnot，andthehost，whohasgrowndeadlypale，begshimtosaynomoreaboutthematter，whichstrikestheyoungmanasasingularlystrangerequest。 Afterbreakfastthehosttakestheyoungmanintoacorner，andexplainstohimthatwhathesawwastheghostofaladywhohadbeenmurderedinthatverybed，orwhohadmurderedsomebodyelsethere——itdoesnotreallymatterwhich：youcanbeaghostbymurderingsomebodyelseorbybeingmurderedyourself，whicheveryouprefer。Themurderedghostis，perhaps，themorepopular；but，ontheotherhand，youcanfrightenpeoplebetterifyouarethemurderedone，becausethenyoucanshowyourwoundsanddogroans。 Thenthereisthescepticalguest——itisalways’theguest’whogetsletinforthissortofthing，by—the—bye。Aghostneverthinksmuchofhisownfamily：itis’theguest’helikestohauntwhoafterlisteningtothehost’sghoststory，onChristmasEve，laughsatit，andsaysthathedoesnotbelievetherearesuchthingsasghostsatall；andthathewillsleepinthehauntedchamberthatverynight，iftheywilllethim。 Everybodyurgeshimnottobereckless，buthepersistsinhisfoolhardiness，andgoesuptotheYellowChamber（orwhatevercolourthehauntedroommaybe）withalightheartandacandle，andwishesthemallgood—night，andshutsthedoor。 Nextmorninghehasgotsnow—whitehair。 Hedoesnottellanybodywhathehasseen：itistooawful。 Thereisalsothepluckyguest，whoseesaghost，andknowsitisaghost，andwatchesit，asitcomesintotheroomanddisappearsthroughthewainscot，afterwhich，astheghostdoesnotseemtobecomingback，andthereisnothing，consequently，tobegainedbystoppingawake，hegoestosleep。 Hedoesnotmentionhavingseentheghosttoanybody，forfearoffrighteningthem——somepeoplearesonervousaboutghosts，——butdeterminestowaitforthenextnight，andseeiftheapparitionappearsagain。 Itdoesappearagain，and，thistime，hegetsoutofbed，dresseshimselfanddoeshishair，andfollowsit；andthendiscoversasecretpassageleadingfromthebedroomdownintothebeer—cellar，— —apassagewhich，nodoubt，wasnotunfrequentlymadeuseofinthebadolddaysofyore。 Afterhimcomestheyoungmanwhowokeupwithastrangesensationinthemiddleofthenight，andfoundhisrichbachelorunclestandingbyhisbedside。Therichunclesmiledaweirdsortofsmileandvanished。Theyoungmanimmediatelygotupandlookedathiswatch。Ithadstoppedathalf—pastfour，hehavingforgottentowindit。 Hemadeinquiriesthenextday，andfoundthat，strangelyenough，hisrichuncle，whoseonlynephewhewas，hadmarriedawidowwithelevenchildrenatexactlyaquartertotwelve，onlytwodaysago，Theyoungmandoesnotattempttoexplainthecircumstance。Allhedoesistovouchforthetruthofhisnarrative。 And，tomentionanothercase，thereisthegentlemanwhoisreturninghomelateatnight，fromaFreemasons’dinner，andwho，noticingalightissuingfromaruinedabbey，creepsup，andlooksthroughthekeyhole。Heseestheghostofa’greysister’kissingtheghostofabrownmonk，andissoinexpressiblyshockedandfrightenedthathefaintsonthespot，andisdiscoveredtherethenextmorning，lyinginaheapagainstthedoor，stillspeechless，andwithhisfaithfullatch—keyclaspedtightlyinhishand。 AllthesethingshappenonChristmasEve，theyarealltoldofonChristmasEve。Forghoststoriestobetoldonanyothereveningthantheeveningofthetwenty—fourthofDecemberwouldbeimpossibleinEnglishsocietyasatpresentregulated。Therefore，inintroducingthesadbutauthenticghoststoriesthatfollowhereafter，IfeelthatitisunnecessarytoinformthestudentofAnglo—Saxonliteraturethatthedateonwhichtheyweretoldandonwhichtheincidentstookplacewas——ChristmasEve。 Nevertheless，Idoso。 NOWTHESTORIESCAMETOBETOLD ItwasChristmasEve！ChristmasEveatmyUncleJohn’s；ChristmasEve（Thereistoomuch’ChristmasEve’aboutthisbook。Icanseethatmyself。Itisbeginningtogetmonotonouseventome。ButI don’tseehowtoavoiditnow。）atNo。47LaburnhamGrove，Tooting！ ChristmasEveinthedimly—lighted（therewasagas—strikeon） frontparlour，wheretheflickeringfire—lightthrewstrangeshadowsonthehighlycolouredwall—paper，whilewithout，inthewildstreet，thestormragedpitilessly，andthewind，likesomeunquietspirit，flew，moaning，acrossthesquare，andpassed，wailingwithatroubledcry，roundbythemilk—shop。 Wehadhadsupper，andweresittinground，talkingandsmoking。 Wehadhadaverygoodsupper——averygoodsupper，indeed。 Unpleasantnesshasoccurredsince，inourfamily，inconnectionwiththisparty。Rumourshavebeenputaboutinourfamily，concerningthemattergenerally，butmoreparticularlyconcerningmyownshareinit，andremarkshavebeenpassedwhichhavenotsomuchsurprisedme，becauseIknowwhatourfamilyare，butwhichhavepainedmeverymuch。AsformyAuntMaria，IdonotknowwhenIshallcaretoseeheragain。IshouldhavethoughtAuntMariamighthaveknownmebetter。 Butalthoughinjustice——grossinjustice，asIshallexplainlateron——hasbeendonetomyself，thatshallnotdetermefromdoingjusticetoothers；eventothosewhohavemadeunfeelinginsinuations。IwilldojusticetoAuntMaria’shotvealpasties，andtoastedlobsters，followedbyherownspecialmakeofcheesecakes，warm（thereisnosense，tomythinking，incoldcheesecakes；youlosehalftheflavour），andwasheddownbyUncleJohn’sownparticularoldale，andacknowledgethattheyweremosttasty。Ididjusticetothemthen；AuntMariaherselfcouldnotbutadmitthat。 Aftersupper，Unclebrewedsomewhisky—punch。Ididjusticetothatalso；UncleJohnhimselfsaidso。HesaidhewasgladtonoticethatIlikedit。 Auntwenttobedsoonaftersupper，leavingthelocalcurate，oldDr。Scrubbles，Mr。SamuelCoombes，ourmemberoftheCountyCouncil，TeddyBiffles，andmyselftokeepUnclecompany。Weagreedthatitwastooearlytogiveinforsometimeyet，soUnclebrewedanotherbowlofpunch；andIthinkwealldidjusticetothat——atleastIknowIdid。Itisapassionwithme，isthedesiretodojustice。 Wesatupforalongwhile，andtheDoctorbrewedsomegin—punchlateron，forachange，thoughIcouldnottastemuchdifferencemyself。Butitwasallgood，andwewereveryhappy——everybodywassokind。 UncleJohntoldusaveryfunnystoryinthecourseoftheevening。 Oh，itWASafunnystory！Iforgetwhatitwasaboutnow，butI knowitamusedmeverymuchatthetime；IdonotthinkIeverlaughedsomuchinallmylife。ItisstrangethatIcannotrecollectthatstorytoo，becausehetolditusfourtimes。Anditwasentirelyourownfaultthathedidnottellitusafifth。 Afterthat，theDoctorsangaverycleversong，inthecourseofwhichheimitatedallthedifferentanimalsinafarmyard。Hedidmixthemabit。Hebrayedforthebantamcock，andcrowedforthepig；butweknewwhathemeantallright。 Istartedrelatingamostinterestinganecdote，butwassomewhatsurprisedtoobserve，asIwenton，thatnobodywaspayingtheslightestattentiontomewhatever。Ithoughtthisratherrudeofthematfirst，untilitdawneduponmethatIwastalkingtomyselfallthetime，insteadofoutaloud，sothat，ofcourse，theydidnotknowthatIwastellingthemataleatall，andwereprobablypuzzledtounderstandthemeaningofmyanimatedexpressionandeloquentgestures。Itwasamostcuriousmistakeforanyonetomake。Ineverknewsuchathinghappentomebefore。 Lateron，ourcuratedidtrickswithcards。Heaskedusifwehadeverseenagamecalledthe\"ThreeCardTrick。\"Hesaiditwasanartificebymeansofwhichlow，unscrupulousmen，frequentersofrace—meetingsandsuchlikehaunts，swindledfoolishyoungfellowsoutoftheirmoney。Hesaiditwasaverysimpletricktodo：italldependedonthequicknessofthehand。Itwasthequicknessofthehanddeceivedtheeye。 Hesaidhewouldshowustheimposturesothatwemightbewarnedagainstit，andnotbetakeninbyit；andhefetchedUncle’spackofcardsfromthetea—caddy，and，selectingthreecardsfromthepack，twoplaincardsandonepicturecard，satdownonthehearthrug，andexplainedtouswhathewasgoingtodo。 Hesaid：\"NowIshalltakethesethreecardsinmyhand——so——andletyouallseethem。AndthenIshallquietlylaythemdownontherug，withthebacksuppermost，andaskyoutopickoutthepicturecard。Andyou’llthinkyouknowwhichoneitis。\"Andhedidit。 OldMr。Coombes，whoisalsooneofourchurchwardens，saiditwasthemiddlecard。 \"Youfancyyousawit，\"saidourcurate，smiling。 \"Idon’t’fancy’anythingatallaboutit，\"repliedMr。Coombes，\"I tellyouit’sthemiddlecard。I’llbetyouhalfadollarit’sthemiddlecard。\" \"Thereyouare，that’sjustwhatIwasexplainingtoyou，\"saidourcurate，turningtotherestofus；\"that’sthewaythesefoolishyoungfellowsthatIwasspeakingofareluredontolosetheirmoney。Theymakesuretheyknowthecard，theyfancytheysawit。 Theydon’tgrasptheideathatitisthequicknessofthehandthathasdeceivedtheireye。\" Hesaidhehadknownyoungmengoofftoaboatrace，oracricketmatch，withpoundsintheirpocket，andcomehome，earlyintheafternoon，stonebroke；havinglostalltheirmoneyatthisdemoralisinggame。 HesaidheshouldtakeMr。Coombes’shalf—crown，becauseitwouldteachMr。Coombesaveryusefullesson，andprobablybethemeansofsavingMr。Coombes’smoneyinthefuture；andheshouldgivethetwo—and—sixpencetotheblanketfund。 \"Don’tyouworryaboutthat，\"retortedoldMr。Coombes。\"Don’tyoutakethehalf—crownOUToftheblanketfund：that’sall。\" Andheputhismoneyonthemiddlecard，andturneditup。 Sureenough，itreallywasthequeen！ Wewereallverymuchsurprised，especiallythecurate。 Hesaidthatitdidsometimeshappenthatway，though——thatamandidsometimeslayontherightcard，byaccident。 Ourcuratesaiditwas，however，themostunfortunatethingamancoulddoforhimself，ifheonlyknewit，because，whenamantriedandwon，itgavehimatastefortheso—calledsport，anditluredhimonintoriskingagainandagain；untilhehadtoretirefromthecontest，abrokenandruinedman。 Thenhedidthetrickagain。Mr。Coombessaiditwasthecardnextthecoal—scuttlethistime，andwantedtoputfiveshillingsonit。 Welaughedathim，andtriedtopersuadehimagainstit。Hewouldlistentonoadvice，however，butinsistedonplunging。 Ourcuratesaidverywellthen：hehadwarnedhim，andthatwasallthathecoulddo。Ifhe（Mr。Coombes）wasdeterminedtomakeafoolofhimself，he（Mr。Coombes）mustdoso。 Ourcuratesaidheshouldtakethefiveshillingsandthatwouldputthingsrightagainwiththeblanketfund。 SoMr。Coombesputtwohalf—crownsonthecardnextthecoal— scuttleandturneditup。 Sureenough，itwasthequeenagain！ Afterthat，UncleJohnhadaflorinon，andHEwon。 Andthenweallplayedatit；andweallwon。Allexceptthecurate，thatis。Hehadaverybadquarterofanhour。Ineverknewamanhavesuchhardluckatcards。Helosteverytime。 Wehadsomemorepunchafterthat；andUnclemadesuchafunnymistakeinbrewingit：heleftoutthewhisky。Oh，wedidlaughathim，andwemadehimputindoublequantityafterwards，asaforfeit。 Oh，wedidhavesuchfunthatevening！ Andthen，somehoworother，wemusthavegotontoghosts；becausethenextrecollectionIhaveisthatweweretellingghoststoriestoeachother。 TEDDYBIFFLES’STORY TeddyBifflestoldthefirststory，Iwilllethimrepeatithereinhisownwords。 （DonotaskmehowitisthatIrecollecthisownexactwords—— whetherItookthemdowninshorthandatthetime，orwhetherhehadthestorywrittenout，andhandedmetheMS。afterwardsforpublicationinthisbook，becauseIshouldnottellyouifyoudid。 Itisatradesecret。） Bifflescalledhisstory— JOHNSONANDEMILY OR THEFAITHFULGHOST （TeddyBiffles’Story） IwaslittlemorethanaladwhenIfirstmetwithJohnson。IwashomefortheChristmasholidays，and，itbeingChristmasEve，Ihadbeenallowedtositupverylate。Onopeningthedoorofmylittlebedroom，togoin，IfoundmyselffacetofacewithJohnson，whowascomingout。Itpassedthroughme，andutteringalonglowwailofmisery，disappearedoutofthestaircasewindow。 Iwasstartledforthemoment——Iwasonlyaschoolboyatthetime，andhadneverseenaghostbefore，——andfeltalittlenervousaboutgoingtobed。But，onreflection，Irememberedthatitwasonlysinfulpeoplethatspiritscoulddoanyharmto，andsotuckedmyselfup，andwenttosleep。 InthemorningItoldthePaterwhatIhadseen。 \"Ohyes，thatwasoldJohnson，\"heanswered。\"Don’tyoubefrightenedofthat；heliveshere。\"Andthenhetoldmethepoorthing’shistory。 ItseemedthatJohnson，whenitwasalive，hadloved，inearlylife，thedaughterofaformerlesseeofourhouse，averybeautifulgirl，whoseChristiannamehadbeenEmily。Fatherdidnotknowherothername。 Johnsonwastoopoortomarrythegirl，sohekissedhergood—bye，toldherhewouldsoonbeback，andwentofftoAustraliatomakehisfortune。 ButAustraliawasnotthenwhatitbecamelateron。Travellersthroughthebushwerefewandfarbetweeninthoseearlydays；and，evenwhenonewascaught，theportablepropertyfounduponthebodywasoftenofhardlysufficientlynegotiablevaluetopaythesimplefuneralexpensesrenderednecessary。SothatittookJohnsonnearlytwentyyearstomakehisfortune。 Theself—imposedtaskwasaccomplishedatlast，however，andthen，havingsuccessfullyeludedthepolice，andgotclearoutoftheColony，hereturnedtoEngland，fullofhopeandjoy，toclaimhisbride。 Hereachedthehousetofinditsilentanddeserted。Allthattheneighbourscouldtellhimwasthat，soonafterhisowndeparture，thefamilyhad，ononefoggynight，unostentatiouslydisappeared，andthatnobodyhadeverseenorheardanythingofthemsince，althoughthelandlordandmostofthelocaltradesmenhadmadesearchinginquiries。 PoorJohnson，frenziedwithgrief，soughthislostloveallovertheworld。Butheneverfoundher，and，afteryearsoffruitlesseffort，hereturnedtoendhislonelylifeintheveryhousewhere，inthehappybygonedays，heandhisbelovedEmilyhadpassedsomanyblissfulhours。 Hehadlivedtherequitealone，wanderingabouttheemptyrooms，weepingandcallingtohisEmilytocomebacktohim；andwhenthepooroldfellowdied，hisghoststillkeptthebusinesson。 Itwasthere，thePatersaid，whenhetookthehouse，andtheagenthadknockedtenpoundsayearofftherentinconsequence。 Afterthat，IwascontinuallymeetingJohnsonabouttheplaceatalltimesofthenight，andso，indeed，wereweall。Weusedtowalkrounditandstandasidetoletitpass，atfirst；but，whenwegrewathomewithit，andthereseemednonecessityforsomuchceremony，weusedtowalkstraightthroughit。Youcouldnotsayitwasevermuchintheway。 Itwasagentle，harmless，oldghost，too，andweallfeltverysorryforit，andpitiedit。Thewomenfolk，indeed，madequiteapetofit，forawhile。Itsfaithfulnesstouchedthemso。 Butastimewenton，itgrewtobeabitabore。Youseeitwasfullofsadness。Therewasnothingcheerfulorgenialaboutit。 Youfeltsorryforit，butitirritatedyou。Itwouldsitonthestairsandcryforhoursatastretch；and，wheneverwewokeupinthenight，onewassuretohearitpotteringaboutthepassagesandinandoutofthedifferentrooms，moaningandsighing，sothatwecouldnotgettosleepagainveryeasily。Andwhenwehadapartyon，itwouldcomeandsitoutsidethedrawing—roomdoor，andsoballthetime。Itdidnotdoanybodyanyharmexactly，butitcastagloomoverthewholeaffair。 \"Oh，I’mgettingsickofthisoldfool，\"saidthePater，oneevening（theDadcanbeveryblunt，whenheisputout，asyouknow），afterJohnsonhadbeenmoreofanuisancethanusual，andhadspoiledagoodgameofwhist，bysittingupthechimneyandgroaning，tillnobodyknewwhatweretrumpsorwhatsuithadbeenled，even。\"Weshallhavetogetridofhim，somehoworother。I wishIknewhowtodoit。\" \"Well，\"saidtheMater，\"dependuponit，you’llneverseethelastofhimuntilhe’sfoundEmily’sgrave。That’swhatheisafter。 YoufindEmily’sgrave，andputhimontothat，andhe’llstopthere。That’stheonlythingtodo。Youmarkmywords。\" Theideaseemedreasonable，butthedifficultyinthewaywasthatwenoneofusknewwhereEmily’sgravewasanymorethantheghostofJohnsonhimselfdid。TheGovernorsuggestedpalmingoffsomeotherEmily’sgraveuponthepoorthing，but，asluckwouldhaveit，theredidnotseemtohavebeenanEmilyofanysortburiedanywhereformilesround。InevercameacrossaneighbourhoodsoutterlydestituteofdeadEmilies。 Ithoughtforabit，andthenIhazardedasuggestionmyself。 \"Couldn’twefakeupsomethingfortheoldchap？\"Iqueried。\"Heseemsasimple—mindedoldsort。Hemighttakeitin。Anyhow，wecouldbuttry。\" \"ByJove，sowewill，\"exclaimedmyfather；andtheverynextmorningwehadtheworkmenin，andfixedupalittlemoundatthebottomoftheorchardwithatombstoneoverit，bearingthefollowinginscription：— SACRED TOTHEMEMORYOF EMILY HERLASTWORDSWERE— \"TELLJOHNSONILOVEHIM\" \"Thatoughttofetchhim，\"musedtheDadashesurveyedtheworkwhenfinished。\"IamsureIhopeitdoes。\" Itdid！ Weluredhimdowntherethatverynight；and——well，there，itwasoneofthemostpatheticthingsIhaveeverseen，thewayJohnsonspranguponthattombstoneandwept。DadandoldSquibbins，thegardener，criedlikechildrenwhentheysawit。 Johnsonhasnevertroubledusanymoreinthehousesincethen。Itspendseverynightnow，sobbingonthegrave，andseemsquitehappy。 \"Therestill？\"Ohyes。I’lltakeyoufellowsdownandshowyouit，nexttimeyoucometoourplace：10p。m。to4a。m。areitsgeneralhours，10to2onSaturdays。 INTERLUDE——THEDOCTOR’SSTORY Itmademecryverymuch，thatstory，youngBifflestolditwithsomuchfeeling。Wewereallalittlethoughtfulafterit，andI noticedeventheoldDoctorcovertlywipeawayatear。UncleJohnbrewedanotherbowlofpunch，however，andwegraduallygrewmoreresigned。 TheDoctor，indeed，afterawhilebecamealmostcheerful，andtoldusabouttheghostofoneofhispatients。 Icannotgiveyouhisstory。IwishIcould。Theyallsaidafterwardsthatitwasthebestofthelot——themostghastlyandterrible——butIcouldnotmakeanysenseofitmyself。Itseemedsoincomplete。 Hebeganallrightandthensomethingseemedtohappen，andthenhewasfinishingit。Icannotmakeoutwhathedidwiththemiddleofthestory。 Itendedup，Iknow，however，withsomebodyfindingsomething；andthatputMr。CoombesinmindofaverycuriousaffairthattookplaceatanoldMill，oncekeptbyhisbrother—in—law。 Mr。Coombessaidhewouldtellushisstory，andbeforeanybodycouldstophim，hehadbegun。 MrCoombessaidthestorywascalled— THEHAUNTEDMILL OR THERUINEDHOME （Mr。Coombes’sStory） Well，youallknowmybrother—in—law，Mr。Parkins（beganMr。 Coombes，takingthelongclaypipefromhismouth，andputtingitbehindhisear：wedidnotknowhisbrother—in—law，butwesaidwedid，soastosavetime），andyouknowofcoursethatheoncetookaleaseofanoldMillinSurrey，andwenttolivethere。 Nowyoumustknowthat，yearsago，thisverymillhadbeenoccupiedbyawickedoldmiser，whodiedthere，leaving——soitwasrumoured— —allhismoneyhiddensomewhereabouttheplace。Naturallyenough，everyonewhohadsincecometoliveatthemillhadtriedtofindthetreasure；butnonehadeversucceeded，andthelocalwiseacressaidthatnobodyeverwould，unlesstheghostofthemiserlymillershould，oneday，takeafancytooneofthetenants，anddisclosetohimthesecretofthehiding—place。 Mybrother—in—lawdidnotattachmuchimportancetothestory，regardingitasanoldwoman’stale，and，unlikehispredecessors，madenoattemptwhatevertodiscoverthehiddengold。 \"Unlessbusinesswasverydifferentthenfromwhatitisnow，\"saidmybrother—in—law，\"Idon’tseehowamillercouldverywellhavesavedanything，howevermuchofamiserhemighthavebeen：atallevents，notenoughtomakeitworththetroubleoflookingforit。\" Still，hecouldnotaltogethergetridoftheideaofthattreasure。 Onenighthewenttobed。Therewasnothingveryextraordinaryaboutthat，Iadmit。Heoftendidgotobedofanight。WhatWAS remarkable，however，wasthatexactlyastheclockofthevillagechurchchimedthelaststrokeoftwelve，mybrother—in—lawwokeupwithastart，andfelthimselfquiteunabletogotosleepagain。 Joe（hisChristiannamewasJoe）satupinbed，andlookedaround。 Atthefootofthebedsomethingstoodverystill，wrappedinshadow。 Itmovedintothemoonlight，andthenmybrother—in—lawsawthatitwasthefigureofawizenedlittleoldman，inknee—breechesandapig—tail。 Inaninstantthestoryofthehiddentreasureandtheoldmiserflashedacrosshismind。 \"He’scometoshowmewhereit’shid，\"thoughtmybrother—in—law； andheresolvedthathewouldnotspendallthismoneyonhimself，butwoulddevoteasmallpercentageofittowardsdoinggoodtoothers。 Theapparitionmovedtowardsthedoor：mybrother—in—lawputonhistrousersandfollowedit。Theghostwentdownstairsintothekitchen，glidedoverandstoodinfrontofthehearth，sighedanddisappeared。 Nextmorning，Joehadacoupleofbricklayersin，andmadethemhauloutthestoveandpulldownthechimney，whilehestoodbehindwithapotato—sackinwhichtoputthegold。 Theyknockeddownhalfthewall，andneverfoundsomuchasafour— pennybit。Mybrother—in—lawdidnotknowwhattothink。 Thenextnighttheoldmanappearedagain，andagainledthewayintothekitchen。Thistime，however，insteadofgoingtothefireplace，itstoodmoreinthemiddleoftheroom，andsighedthere。 \"Oh，Iseewhathemeansnow，\"saidmybrother—in—lawtohimself； \"it’sunderthefloor。Whydidtheoldidiotgoandstandupagainstthestove，soastomakemethinkitwasupthechimney？\" Theyspentthenextdayintakingupthekitchenfloor；buttheonlythingtheyfoundwasathree—prongedfork，andthehandleofthatwasbroken。 Onthethirdnight，theghostreappeared，quiteunabashed，andforathirdtimemadeforthekitchen。Arrivedthere，itlookedupattheceilingandvanished。 \"Umph！hedon’tseemtohavelearnedmuchsensewherehe’sbeento，\"mutteredJoe，ashetrottedbacktobed；\"Ishouldhavethoughthemighthavedonethatatfirst。\" Still，thereseemednodoubtnowwherethetreasurelay，andthefirstthingafterbreakfasttheystartedpullingdowntheceiling。 Theygoteveryinchoftheceilingdown，andtheytookuptheboardsoftheroomabove。 Theydiscoveredaboutasmuchtreasureasyouwouldexpecttofindinanemptyquart—pot。 Onthefourthnight，whentheghostappeared，asusual，mybrother— in—lawwassowildthathethrewhisbootsatit；andthebootspassedthroughthebody，andbrokealooking—glass。 Onthefifthnight，whenJoeawoke，ashealwaysdidnowattwelve，theghostwasstandinginadejectedattitude，lookingverymiserable。Therewasanappealinglookinitslargesadeyesthatquitetouchedmybrother—in—law。 \"Afterall，\"hethought，\"perhapsthesillychap’sdoinghisbest。