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at Bowling； had any skill as a Boxer； even in his Buoyant Boyhood
Bathed from a Bathing…machine at Bognor； Bangor； Bournemouth；
Brighton； or Broadstairs； like a Bounding Billiard Ball？
So； from the first； I was haunted by the letter B。
It was not long before I remarked that I never by any hazard had a
dream of Master B。； or of anything belonging to him。 But； the
instant I awoke from sleep； at whatever hour of the night； my
thoughts took him up； and roamed away； trying to attach his initial
letter to something that would fit it and keep it quiet。
For six nights； I had been worried this in Master B。's room； when I
began to perceive that things were going wrong。
The first appearance that presented itself was early in the morning
when it was but just daylight and no more。 I was standing shaving
at my glass； when I suddenly discovered； to my consternation and
amazement； that I was shavingnot myselfI am fiftybut a boy。
Apparently Master B。！
I trembled and looked over my shoulder； nothing there。 I looked
again in the glass； and distinctly saw the features and expression
of a boy； who was shaving； not to get rid of a beard； but to get
one。 Extremely troubled in my mind； I took a few turns in the room；
and went back to the looking…glass； resolved to steady my hand and
complete the operation in which I had been disturbed。 Opening my
eyes； which I had shut while recovering my firmness； I now met in
the glass； looking straight at me； the eyes of a young man of four
or five and twenty。 Terrified by this new ghost； I closed my eyes；
and made a strong effort to recover myself。 Opening them again； I
saw； shaving his cheek in the glass； my father； who has long been
dead。 Nay； I even saw my grandfather too； whom I never did see in
my life。
Although naturally much affected by these remarkable visitations； I
determined to keep my secret； until the time agreed upon for the
present general disclosure。 Agitated by a multitude of curious
thoughts； I retired to my room； that night； prepared to encounter
some new experience of a spectral character。 Nor was my preparation
needless； for； waking from an uneasy sleep at exactly two o'clock in
the morning； what were my feelings to find that I was sharing my bed
with the skeleton of Master B。！
I sprang up； and the skeleton sprang up also。 I then heard a
plaintive voice saying； 〃Where am I？ What is become of me？〃 and；
looking hard in that direction； perceived the ghost of Master B。
The young spectre was dressed in an obsolete fashion： or rather；
was not so much dressed as put into a case of inferior pepper…and…
salt cloth； made horrible by means of shining buttons。 I observed
that these buttons went； in a double row； over each shoulder of the
young ghost； and appeared to descend his back。 He wore a frill
round his neck。 His right hand （which I distinctly noticed to be
inky） was laid upon his stomach； connecting this action with some
feeble pimples on his countenance； and his general air of nausea； I
concluded this ghost to be the ghost of a boy who had habitually
taken a great deal too much medicine。
〃Where am I？〃 said the little spectre； in a pathetic voice。 〃And
why was I born in the Calomel days； and why did I have all that
Calomel given me？〃
I replied； with sincere earnestness； that upon my soul I couldn't
tell him。
〃Where is my little sister；〃 said the ghost； 〃and where my angelic
little wife； and where is the boy I went to school with？〃
I entreated the phantom to be comforted； and above all things to
take heart respecting the loss of the boy he went to school with。 I
represented to him that probably that boy never did； within human
experience； come out well； when discovered。 I urged that I myself
had； in later life； turned up several boys whom I went to school
with； and none of them had at all answered。 I expressed my humble
belief that that boy never did answer。 I represented that he was a
mythic character； a delusion； and a snare。 I recounted how； the
last time I found him； I found him at a dinner party behind a wall
of white cravat； with an inconclusive opinion on every possible
subject； and a power of silent boredom absolutely Titanic。 I
related how； on the strength of our having been together at 〃Old
Doylance's；〃 he had asked himself to breakfast with me （a social
offence of the largest magnitude）； how； fanning my weak embers of
belief in Doylance's boys； I had let him in； and how； he had proved
to be a fearful wanderer about the earth； pursuing the race of Adam
with inexplicable notions concerning the currency； and with a
proposition that the Bank of England should； on pain of being
abolished； instantly strike off and circulate； God knows how many
thousand millions of ten…and…sixpenny notes。
The ghost heard me in silence； and with a fixed stare。 〃Barber！〃 it
apostrophised me when I had finished。
〃Barber？〃 I repeatedfor I am not of that profession。
〃Condemned；〃 said the ghost； 〃to shave a constant change of
customersnow； menow； a young mannow； thyself as thou artnow；
thy fathernow； thy grandfather； condemned； too； to lie down with a
skeleton every night； and to rise with it every morning〃
（I shuddered on hearing this dismal announcement。）
〃Barber！ Pursue me！〃
I had felt； even before the words were uttered； that I was under a
spell to pursue the phantom。 I immediately did so； and was in
Master B。's room no longer。
Most people know what long and fatiguing night journeys had been
forced upon the witches who used to confess； and who； no doubt； told
the exact truthparticularly as they were always assisted with
leading questions； and the Torture was always ready。 I asseverate
that； during my occupation of Master B。's room； I was taken by the
ghost that haunted it； on expeditions fully as long and wild as any
of those。 Assuredly； I was presented to no shabby old man with a
goat's horns and tail （something between Pan and an old clothesman）；
holding conventional receptions； as stupid as those of real life and
less decent； but； I came upon other things which appeared to me to
have more meaning。
Confident that I speak the truth and shall be believed； I declare
without hesitation that I followed the ghost； in the first instance
on a broom…stick； and afterwards on a rocking…horse。 The very smell
of the animal's paintespecially when I brought it out； by making
him warmI am ready to swear to。 I followed the ghost； afterwards；
in a hackney coach； an institution with the peculiar smell of which；
the present generation is unacquainted； but to which I am again
ready to swear as a combination of stable； dog with the mange； and
very old bellows。 （In this； I appeal to previous generations to
confirm or refute me。） I pursued the phantom； on a headless donkey：
at least； upon a donkey who was so interested in the state of his
stomach that his head was always down there； investigating it；