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for this sort of thing； by…the…bye。 A ghost never thinks much of his own
family： it is 'the guest' he likes to haunt who after listening to the host's
ghost story； on Christmas Eve； laughs at it； and says that he does not
believe there are such things as ghosts at all； and that he will sleep in the
haunted chamber that very night； if they will let him。
Everybody urges him not to be reckless； but he persists in his
foolhardiness； and goes up to the Yellow Chamber （or whatever colour the
haunted room may be） with a light heart and a candle； and wishes them all
good…night； and shuts the door。
Next morning he has got snow…white hair。
He does not tell anybody what he has seen： it is too awful。
There is also the plucky guest； who sees a ghost； and knows it is a
ghost； and watches it； as it comes into the room and disappears through the
wainscot； after which； as the ghost does not seem to be coming back； and
there is nothing； consequently； to be gained by stopping awake； he goes to
sleep。
He does not mention having seen the ghost to anybody； for fear of
frightening themsome people are so nervous about ghosts；but
determines to wait for the next night； and see if the apparition appears
again。
It does appear again； and； this time； he gets out of bed； dresses himself
and does his hair； and follows it； and then discovers a secret passage
leading from the bedroom down into the beer…cellar；… …a passage which； no
doubt； was not unfrequently made use of in the bad old days of yore。
After him comes the young man who woke up with a strange sensation
in the middle of the night； and found his rich bachelor uncle standing by
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TOLD AFTER SUPPER
his bedside。 The rich uncle smiled a weird sort of smile and vanished。
The young man immediately got up and looked at his watch。 It had
stopped at half…past four； he having forgotten to wind it。
He made inquiries the next day； and found that； strangely enough； his
rich uncle； whose only nephew he was； had married a widow with eleven
children at exactly a quarter to twelve； only two days ago；
The young man does not attempt to explain the circumstance。 All he
does is to vouch for the truth of his narrative。
And； to mention another case； there is the gentleman who is returning
home late at night； from a Freemasons' dinner； and who； noticing a light
issuing from a ruined abbey； creeps up； and looks through the keyhole。
He sees the ghost of a 'grey sister' kissing the ghost of a brown monk； and
is so inexpressibly shocked and frightened that he faints on the spot； and is
discovered there the next morning； lying in a heap against the door； still
speechless； and with his faithful latch…key clasped tightly in his hand。
All these things happen on Christmas Eve； they are all told of on
Christmas Eve。 For ghost stories to be told on any other evening than the
evening of the twenty…fourth of December would be impossible in English
society as at present regulated。 Therefore； in introducing the sad but
authentic ghost stories that follow hereafter； I feel that it is unnecessary to
inform the student of Anglo…Saxon literature that the date on which they
were told and on which the incidents took place wasChristmas Eve。
Nevertheless； I do so。
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HOW THE STORIES CAME TO
BE TOLD
It was Christmas Eve！ Christmas Eve at my Uncle John's； Christmas
Eve （There is too much 'Christmas Eve' about this book。 I can see that
myself。 It is beginning to get monotonous even to me。 But I don't see
how to avoid it now。） at No。 47 Laburnham Grove； Tooting！ Christmas
Eve in the dimly…lighted （there was a gas…strike on） front parlour； where
the flickering fire…light threw strange shadows on the highly coloured
wall…paper； while without； in the wild street； the storm raged pitilessly； and
the wind； like some unquiet spirit； flew； moaning； across the square； and
passed； wailing with a troubled cry； round by the milk…shop。
We had had supper； and were sitting round； talking and smoking。
We had had a very good suppera very good supper； indeed。
Unpleasantness has occurred since； in our family； in connection with this
party。 Rumours have been put about in our family； concerning the matter
generally； but more particularly concerning my own share in it； and
remarks have been passed which have not so much surprised me； because
I know what our family are； but which have pained me very much。 As
for my Aunt Maria； I do not know when I shall care to see her again。 I
should have thought Aunt Maria might have known me better。
But although injusticegross injustice； as I shall explain later onhas
been done to myself； that shall not deter me from doing justice to others；
even to those who have made unfeeling insinuations。 I will do justice to
Aunt Maria's hot veal pasties； and toasted lobsters； followed by her own
special make of cheesecakes； warm （there is no sense； to my thinking； in
cold cheesecakes； you lose half the flavour）； and washed down by Uncle
John's own particular old ale； and acknowledge that they were most tasty。
I did justice to them then； Aunt Maria herself could not but admit that。
After supper； Uncle brewed some whisky…punch。 I did justice to that
also； Uncle John himself said so。 He said he was glad to notice that I
liked it。
Aunt went to bed soon after supper； leaving the local curate； old Dr。
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Scrubbles； Mr。 Samuel Coombes； our member of the County Council；
Teddy Biffles； and myself to keep Uncle company。 We agreed that it was
too early to give in for some time yet； so Uncle brewed another bowl of
punch； and I think we all did justice to thatat least I know I did。 It is a
passion with me； is the desire to do justice。
We sat up for a long while； and the Doctor brewed some gin…punch
later on； for a change； though I could not taste much difference myself。
But it was all good； and we were very happyeverybody was so kind。
Uncle John told us a very funny story in the course of the evening。 Oh；
it WAS a funny story！ I forget what it was about now； but I know it
amused me very much at the time； I do not think I ever laughed so much
in all my life。 It is strange that I cannot recollect that story too； because
he told it us four times。 And it was entirely our own fault that he did not
tell it us a fifth。 After that； the Doctor sang a very clever song； in the
course of which he imitated all the different animals in a farmyard。 He
did mix them a bit。 He brayed for the bantam cock； and crowed for the
pig； but we knew what he meant all right。
I started relating a most interesting anecdote； but was somewhat
surprised to observe； as I went on； that nobody was paying the slightest
attention to me whatever。 I thought this rather rude of them at first； until
it dawned upon me that I was talking to myself all the time； instead of out
aloud； so that； of course； they did not know that I was telling them a tale at
all； and were probably puzzled to understand the meaning of my animated
expression and eloquent gestures。 It was a most curious mistake for any
one to make。 I never knew such a thing happen to me before。
Later on； our curate did tricks with cards。 He asked us if we had ever
seen a game called the 〃Three Card Trick。〃 He said it was an artifice by
means of which low； unscrupulous men； frequenters of race…meetings and
such like haunts； swindled foolish young fellows out of their money。 He
said it was a very simple trick to do： it all depended on the quickness of
the hand。 It was the quickness of the hand deceived the eye。
He said he would show us the imposture so that we might b