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all come home； or ought to come home； for a short holidaythe longer； the
betterfrom the great boarding…school； where we are for ever working at
our arithmetical slates； to take； and give a rest。 As to going a visiting；
where can we not go； if we will； where have we not been； when we would；
starting our fancy from our Christmas Tree！
Away into the winter prospect。 There are many such upon the tree！
On； by low…lying； misty grounds； through fens and fogs； up long hills；
winding dark as caverns between thick plantations； almost shutting out the
sparkling stars； so； out on broad heights； until we stop at last； with sudden
silence； at an avenue。 The gate…bell has a deep； half…awful sound in the
frosty air； the gate swings open on its hinges； and； as we drive up to a
great house； the glancing lights grow larger in the windows； and the
opposing rows of trees seem to fall solemnly back on either side； to give
us place。 At intervals； all day； a frightened hare has shot across this
whitened turf； or the distant clatter of a herd of deer trampling the hard
frost； has； for the minute； crushed the silence too。 Their watchful eyes
beneath the fern may be shining now； if we could see them； like the icy
dewdrops on the leaves； but they are still； and all is still。 And so； the
lights growing larger； and the trees falling back before us； and closing up
again behind us； as if to forbid retreat； we come to the house。
There is probably a smell of roasted chestnuts and other good
comfortable things all the time； for we are telling Winter Stories Ghost
Stories； or more shame for usround the Christmas fire； and we have
never stirred； except to draw a little nearer to it。 But； no matter for that。
We came to the house； and it is an old house； full of great chimneys where
wood is burnt on ancient dogs upon the hearth； and grim portraits （some of
them with grim legends； too） lower distrustfully from the oaken panels of
the walls。 We are a middle…aged nobleman； and we make a generous
supper with our host and hostess and their guestsit being Christmas…time；
and the old house full of companyand then we go to bed。 Our room is a
very old room。 It is hung with tapestry。 We don't like the portrait of a
cavalier in green； over the fireplace。 There are great black beams in the
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ceiling； and there is a great black bedstead； supported at the foot by two
great black figures； who seem to have come off a couple of tombs in the
old baronial church in the park； for our particular accommodation。 But；
we are not a superstitious nobleman； and we don't mind。 Well！ we
dismiss our servant； lock the door； and sit before the fire in our dressing…
gown； musing about a great many things。 At length we go to bed。 Well！
we can't sleep。 We toss and tumble； and can't sleep。 The embers on the
hearth burn fitfully and make the room look ghostly。 We can't help
peeping out over the counterpane； at the two black figures and the
cavalierthat wicked… looking cavalierin green。 In the flickering light
they seem to advance and retire： which； though we are not by any means
a superstitious nobleman； is not agreeable。 Well！ we get nervous more
and more nervous。 We say 〃This is very foolish； but we can't stand this；
we'll pretend to be ill； and knock up somebody。〃 Well！ we are just going
to do it； when the locked door opens； and there comes in a young woman；
deadly pale； and with long fair hair； who glides to the fire； and sits down
in the chair we have left there； wringing her hands。 Then； we notice that
her clothes are wet。 Our tongue cleaves to the roof of our mouth； and we
can't speak； but； we observe her accurately。 Her clothes are wet； her long
hair is dabbled with moist mud； she is dressed in the fashion of two
hundred years ago； and she has at her girdle a bunch of rusty keys。 Well！
there she sits； and we can't even faint； we are in such a state about it。
Presently she gets up； and tries all the locks in the room with the rusty
keys； which won't fit one of them； then； she fixes her eyes on the portrait
of the cavalier in green； and says； in a low； terrible voice； 〃The stags know
it！〃 After that； she wrings her hands again； passes the bedside； and goes
out at the door。 We hurry on our dressing…gown； seize our pistols （we
always travel with pistols）； and are following； when we find the door
locked。 We turn the key； look out into the dark gallery； no one there。
We wander away； and try to find our servant。 Can't be done。 We pace the
gallery till daybreak； then return to our deserted room； fall asleep； and are
awakened by our servant （nothing ever haunts him） and the shining sun。
Well！ we make a wretched breakfast； and all the company say we look
queer。 After breakfast； we go over the house with our host； and then we
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take him to the portrait of the cavalier in green； and then it all comes out。
He was false to a young housekeeper once attached to that family； and
famous for her beauty； who drowned herself in a pond； and whose body
was discovered； after a long time； because the stags refused to drink of the
water。 Since which； it has been whispered that she traverses the house at
midnight （but goes especially to that room where the cavalier in green was
wont to sleep）； trying the old locks with the rusty keys。 Well！ we tell our
host of what we have seen； and a shade comes over his features； and he
begs it may be hushed up； and so it is。 But； it's all true； and we said so；
before we died （we are dead now） to many responsible people。
There is no end to the old houses； with resounding galleries； and
dismal state…bedchambers； and haunted wings shut up for many years；
through which we may ramble； with an agreeable creeping up our back；
and encounter any number of ghosts； but （it is worthy of remark perhaps）
reducible to a very few general types and classes； for； ghosts have little
originality； and 〃walk〃 in a beaten track。 Thus； it comes to pass； that a
certain room in a certain old hall； where a certain bad lord； baronet； knight；
or gentleman； shot himself； has certain planks in the floor from which the
blood WILL NOT be taken out。 You may scrape and scrape； as the
present owner has done； or plane and plane； as his father did； or scrub and
scrub； as his grandfather did； or burn and burn with strong acids； as his
great… grandfather did； but； there the blood will still beno redder and no
palerno more and no lessalways just the same。 Thus； in such another
house there is a haunted door； that never will keep open； or another door
that never will keep shut； or a haunted sound of a spinning…wheel； or a
hammer； or a footstep； or a cry； or a sigh； or a horse's tramp； or the rattling
of a chain。 Or else； there is a turret…clock； which； at the midnight hour；
strikes thirteen when the head of the family is going to die； or a shadowy；
immovable black carriage which at such a time is always seen by
somebody； waiting near the great gates in the stable…yard。 Or thus； it
came to pass how Lady Mary went to pay a visit at a large wild house in
the Scottish Highlands； and； being fatigued with her long journey； retired
to bed early； and innocently said； next morning； at the breakfast…table；
〃How odd； to have so late a party last night； in this remote place； and not
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to tell me of it； before I went to bed！〃 Then； every one asked Lady Mary
what she meant？ Then； Lady Mary replied； 〃Why； all nig