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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 night long； the
carriages were driving round and round the terrace； underneath my
window！〃 Then； the owner of the house turned pale； and so did his Lady；
and Charles Macdoodle of Macdoodle signed to Lady Mary to say no
more； and every one was silent。 After breakfast； Charles Macdoodle told
Lady Mary that it was a tradition in the family that those rumbling
carriages on the terrace betokened death。 And so it proved； for； two
months afterwards； the Lady of the mansion died。 And Lady Mary； who
was a Maid of Honour at Court； often told this story to the old Queen
Charlotte； by this token that the old King always said； 〃Eh； eh？ What；
what？ Ghosts； ghosts？ No such thing； no such thing！〃 And never left
off saying so； until he went to bed。
Or； a friend of somebody's whom most of us know； when he was a
young man at college； had a particular friend； with whom he made the
compact that； if it were possible for the Spirit to return to this earth after
its separation from the body； he of the twain who first died； should
reappear to the other。 In course of time； this compact was forgotten by
our friend； the two young men having progressed in life； and taken
diverging paths that were wide asunder。 But； one night； many years
afterwards； our friend being in the North of England； and staying for the
night in an inn； on the Yorkshire Moors； happened to look out of bed； and
there； in the moonlight； leaning on a bureau near the window； steadfastly
regarding him； saw his old college friend！ The appearance being
solemnly addressed； replied； in a kind of whisper； but very audibly； 〃Do
not come near me。 I am dead。 I am here to redeem my promise。 I
come from another world； but may not disclose its secrets！〃 Then； the
whole form becoming paler； melted； as it were； into the moonlight； and
faded away。
Or； there was the daughter of the first occupier of the picturesque
Elizabethan house； so famous in our neighbourhood。 You have heard
about her？ No！ Why； SHE went out one summer evening at twilight；
when she was a beautiful girl； just seventeen years of age； to gather
flowers in the garden； and presently came running； terrified； into the hall
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to her father； saying； 〃Oh； dear father； I have met myself！〃 He took her
in his arms； and told her it was fancy； but she said； 〃Oh no！ I met myself
in the broad walk； and I was pale and gathering withered flowers； and I
turned my head； and held them up！〃 And； that night； she died； and a
picture of her story was begun； though never finished； and they say it is
somewhere in the house to this day； with its face to the wall。
Or； the uncle of my brother's wife was riding home on horseback； one
mellow evening at sunset； when； in a green lane close to his own house； he
saw a man standing before him； in the very centre of a narrow way。
〃Why does that man in the cloak stand there！〃 he thought。 〃Does he
want me to ride over him？〃 But the figure never moved。 He felt a
strange sensation at seeing it so still； but slackened his trot and rode
forward。 When he was so close to it； as almost to