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not breathe。 With him； was his wife： a charming creature to whom he had
been married in the previous spring。 I thought it （under the circumstances）
rather imprudent to bring her； because there is no knowing what even a
false alarm may do at such a time； but I suppose he knew his own business
best； and I must say that if she had been MY wife； I never could have left
her endearing and bright face behind。 They drew the Clock Room。 Alfred
Starling； an uncommonly agreeable young fellow of eight…and…twenty for
whom I have the greatest liking； was in the Double Room； mine； usually；
and designated by that name from having a dressing…room within it； with
two large and cumbersome windows； which no wedges I was ever able to
make； would keep from shaking； in any weather； wind or no wind。 Alfred
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is a young fellow who pretends to be 〃fast〃 （another word for loose； as I
understand the term）； but who is much too good and sensible for that
nonsense； and who would have distinguished himself before now； if his
father had not unfortunately left him a small independence of two hundred
a year； on the strength of which his only occupation in life has been to
spend six。 I am in hopes； however； that his Banker may break； or that he
may enter into some speculation guaranteed to pay twenty per cent。； for； I
am convinced that if he could only be ruined； his fortune is made。 Belinda
Bates； bosom friend of my sister； and a most intellectual； amiable； and
delightful girl； got the Picture Room。 She has a fine genius for poetry；
combined with real business earnestness； and 〃goes in〃to use an
expression of Alfred'sfor Woman's mission； Woman's rights； Woman's
wrongs； and everything that is woman's with a capital W； or is not and
ought to be； or is and ought not to be。 〃Most praiseworthy； my dear； and
Heaven prosper you！〃 I whispered to her on the first night of my taking
leave of her at the Picture…Room door； 〃but don't overdo it。 And in respect
of the great necessity there is； my darling； for more employments being
within the reach of Woman than our civilisation has as yet assigned to her；
don't fly at the unfortunate men； even those men who are at first sight in
your way； as if they were the natural oppressors of your sex； for； trust me；
Belinda； they do sometimes spend their wages among wives and daughters；
sisters； mothers； aunts； and grandmothers； and the play is； really； not ALL
Wolf and Red Riding…Hood； but has other parts in it。〃 However； I digress。
Belinda； as I have mentioned； occupied the Picture Room。 We had but
three other chambers： the Corner Room； the Cupboard Room； and the
Garden Room。 My old friend； Jack Governor； 〃slung his hammock；〃 as he
called it； in the Corner Room。 I have always regarded Jack as the finest…
looking sailor that ever sailed。 He is gray now； but as handsome as he was
a quarter of a century agonay； handsomer。 A portly； cheery； well…built
figure of a broad…shouldered man； with a frank smile； a brilliant dark eye；
and a rich dark eyebrow。 I remember those under darker hair； and they
look all the better for their silver setting。 He has been wherever his Union
namesake flies； has Jack； and I have met old shipmates of his； away in the
Mediterranean and on the other side of the Atlantic； who have beamed and
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brightened at the casual mention of his name； and have cried； 〃You know
Jack Governor？ Then you know a prince of men！〃 That he is！ And so
unmistakably a naval officer； that if you were to meet him coming out of
an Esquimaux snow…hut in seal's skin； you would be vaguely persuaded he
was in full naval uniform。
Jack once had that bright clear eye of his on my sister； but； it fell out
that he married another lady and took her to South America； where she
died。 This was a dozen years ago or more。 He brought down with him to
our haunted house a little cask of salt beef； for； he is always convinced that
all salt beef not of his own pickling； is mere carrion； and invariably； when
he goes to London； packs a piece in his portmanteau。 He had also
volunteered to bring with him one 〃Nat Beaver；〃 an old comrade of his；
captain of a merchantman。 Mr。 Beaver； with a thick…set wooden face and
figure； and apparently as hard as a block all over； proved to be an
intelligent man； with a world of watery experiences in him； and great
practical knowledge。 At times； there was a curious nervousness about him；
apparently the lingering result of some old illness； but； it seldom lasted
many minutes。 He got the Cupboard Room； and lay there next to Mr。
Undery； my friend and solicitor： who came down； in an amateur capacity；
〃to go through with it；〃 as he said； and who plays whist better than the
whole Law List； from the red cover at the beginning to the red cover at the
end。
I never was happier in my life； and I believe it was the universal
feeling among us。 Jack Governor； always a man of wonderful resources；
was Chief Cook； and made some of the best dishes I ever ate； including
unapproachable curries。 My sister was pastrycook and confectioner。
Starling and I were Cook's Mate； turn and turn about； and on special
occasions the chief cook 〃pressed〃 Mr。 Beaver。 We had a great deal of out…
door sport and exercise； but nothing was neglected within； and there was
no ill…humour or misunderstanding among us； and our evenings were so
delightful that we had at least one good reason for being reluctant to go to
bed。
We had a few night alarms in the beginning。 On the first night； I was
knocked up by Jack with a most wonderful ship's lantern in his hand； like
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the gills of some monster of the deep； who informed me that he 〃was
going aloft to the main truck；〃 to have the weathercock down。 It was a
stormy night and I remonstrated； but Jack called my attention to its
making a sound like a cry of despair； and said somebody would be
〃hailing a ghost〃 presently； if it wasn't done。 So； up to the top of the house；
where I could hardly stand for the wind； we went； accompanied by Mr。
Beaver； and there Jack； lantern and all； with Mr。 Beaver after him；
swarmed up to the top of a cupola； some two dozen feet above the
chimneys； and stood upon nothing particular； coolly knocking the
weathercock off； until they both got into such good spirits with the wind
and the height； that I thought they would never come down。 Another night；
they turned out again； and had a chimney…cowl off。 Another night； they cut
a sobbing and gulping water…pipe away。 Another night； they found out
something else。 On several occasions； they both； in the coolest manner；
simultaneously dropped out of their respective bedroom windows； hand
over hand by their counterpanes； to 〃overhaul〃 something mysterious in
the garden。
The engagement among us was faithfully kept； and nobody revealed
anything。 All we knew was； if any one's room were haunted； no one
looked the worse for it。
CHAPTER IITHE GHOST IN MASTER B。'S
ROOM
When I established myself in the triangular garret which had gained so
distinguished a reputation； my thoughts naturally turned to Master B。 My
speculations about him were uneasy and manifold。 Whether his Christian
name was Benjamin； Bissextile （from his having been born in Leap Year）；
Bartholomew； or Bill。 Whether the initial letter belonged to his family
name； and that was Baxter； Black； Brown； Barker； Buggins； Baker； or Bird。
Whether he was a foundling； and had been baptized B。 Whether he was a
lion…hearted boy； and B。 was short for Briton； or for Bull。 Whether he