Collected Ghost Stories Read Online Free Page B

Collected Ghost Stories
Book: Collected Ghost Stories Read Online Free
Author: M. R. James, Darryl Jones
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the then available books bearing on the Mysteries, * the Orphic poems, * the worship of Mithras, * and the Neo-Platonists. * In the marble-paved hall stood a fine group of Mithras slaying a bull, which had been imported from the Levant at great expense by the owner. He had contributed a description of it to the
Gentleman’s Magazine
, and he had written a remarkable series of articles in the
Critical Museum
* on the superstitions of the Romans of the Lower Empire. He was looked upon, in fine, as a man wrapped up in his books, and it was a matter of great surprise among his neighbours that he should even have heard of his orphan cousin, Stephen Elliott, much more that he should have volunteered to make him an inmate of Aswarby Hall.
    Whatever may have been expected by his neighbours, it is certain that Mr. Abney—the tall, the thin, the austere—seemed inclined to give his young cousin a kindly reception. The moment the front door was opened he darted out of his study, rubbing his hands with delight.
    ‘How are you, my boy?—how are you? How old are you?’ said he—‘that is, you are not too much tired, I hope, by your journey to eat your supper?’
    ‘No, thank you, sir,’ said Master Elliott; ‘I am pretty well.’
    ‘That’s a good lad,’ said Mr. Abney. ‘And how old are you, my boy?’
    It seemed a little odd that he should have asked the question twice in the first two minutes of their acquaintance.
    ‘I’m twelve years old next birthday, sir,’ said Stephen.
    ‘And when is your birthday, my dear boy? Eleventh of September, eh? That’s well—that’s very well. Nearly a year hence, isn’t it? I like—ha, ha!—I like to get these things down in my book. Sure it’s twelve? Certain?’
    ‘Yes, quite sure, sir.’
    ‘Well, well! Take him to Mrs. Bunch’s room, Parkes, and let him have his tea—supper—whatever it is.’
    ‘Yes, sir,’ answered the staid Mr. Parkes; and conducted Stephen to the lower regions.
    Mrs. Bunch was the most comfortable and human person whom Stephen had as yet met in Aswarby. She made him completely at home; they were great friends in a quarter of an hour: and great friends they remained. Mrs. Bunch had been born in theneighbourhood some fifty-five years before the date of Stephen’s arrival, and her residence at the Hall was of twenty years’ standing. Consequently, if anyone knew the ins and outs of the house and the district, Mrs. Bunch knew them; and she was by no means disinclined to communicate her information.
    Certainly there were plenty of things about the Hall and the Hall gardens which Stephen, who was of an adventurous and inquiring turn, was anxious to have explained to him. ‘Who built the temple at the end of the laurel walk? Who was the old man whose picture hung on the staircase, sitting at a table, with a skull under his hand?’ These and many similar points were cleared up by the resources of Mrs. Bunch’s powerful intellect. There were others, however, of which the explanations furnished were less satisfactory.
    One November evening Stephen was sitting by the fire in the housekeeper’s room reflecting on his surroundings.
    ‘Is Mr. Abney a good man, and will he go to heaven?’ he suddenly asked, with the peculiar confidence which children possess in the ability of their elders to settle these questions, the decision of which is believed to be reserved for other tribunals.
    ‘Good?—bless the child!’ said Mrs. Bunch. ‘Master’s as kind a soul as ever I see! Didn’t I never tell you of the little boy as he took in out of the street, as you may say, this seven years back? and the little girl, two years after I first come here?’
    ‘No. Do tell me all about them, Mrs. Bunch—now this minute!’
    ‘Well,’ said Mrs. Bunch, ‘the little girl I don’t seem to recollect so much about. I know master brought her back with him from his walk one day, and give orders to Mrs. Ellis, as was housekeeper then, as she should be took every care

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