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Christmas at a country house； and； on Christmas Eve； they put him to
sleep in the west wing。 Then in the middle of the night； the room door
quietly opens and somebodygenerally a lady in her night…dresswalks
slowly in； and comes and sits on the bed。 The young man thinks it must
be one of the visitors； or some relative of the family； though he does not
remember having previously seen her； who； unable to go to sleep； and
feeling lonesome； all by herself； has come into his room for a chat。 He
has no idea it is a ghost： he is so unsuspicious。 She does not speak；
however； and； when he looks again； she is gone！
The young man relates the circumstance at the breakfast…table next
morning； and asks each of the ladies present if it were she who was his
visitor。 But they all assure him that it was not； and the host； who has
grown deadly pale； begs him to say no more about the matter； which
strikes the young man as a singularly strange request。
After breakfast the host takes the young man into a corner； and
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explains to him that what he saw was the ghost of a lady who had been
murdered in that very bed； or who had murdered somebody else thereit
does not really matter which： you can be a ghost by murdering
somebody else or by being murdered yourself； whichever you prefer。
The murdered ghost is； perhaps； the more popular； but； on the other hand；
you can frighten people better if you are the murdered one； because then
you can show your wounds and do groans。
Then there is the sceptical guestit is always 'the guest' who gets let in
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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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
generall