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。