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in California； and the last was； as Ikey said （and he was confirmed
by the landlord）； Anywheres。
Now； although I regard with a hushed and solemn fear； the
mysteries； between which and this state of existence is interposed
the barrier of the great trial and change that fall on all the
things that live； and although I have not the audacity to pretend
that I know anything of them； I can no more reconcile the mere
banging of doors； ringing of bells； creaking of boards； and such…
like insignificances； with the majestic beauty and pervading
analogy of all the Divine rules that I am permitted to understand；
than I had been able； a little while before； to yoke the spiritual
intercourse of my fellow… traveller to the chariot of the rising
sun。 Moreover； I had lived in two haunted housesboth abroad。 In
one of these； an old Italian palace； which bore the reputation of
being very badly haunted indeed； and which had recently been twice
abandoned on that account； I lived eight months； most tranquilly
and pleasantly： notwithstanding that the house had a score of
mysterious bedrooms； which were never used； and possessed； in one
large room in which I sat reading； times out of number at all
hours； and next to which I slept； a haunted chamber of the first
pretensions。 I gently hinted these considerations to the landlord。
And as to this particular house having a bad name； I reasoned with
him； Why； how many things had bad names undeservedly； and how easy
it was to give bad names； and did he not think that if he and I
were persistently to whisper in the village that any weird…looking
old drunken tinker of the neighborhood had sold himself to the
Devil； he would come in time to be suspected of that commercial
venture！ All this wise talk was perfectly ineffective with the
landlord； I am bound to confess； and was as dead a failure as ever
I made in my life。
To cut this part of the story short； I was piqued about the haunted
house； and was already half resolved to take it。 So； after
breakfast； I got the keys from Perkins's brother…in…law （a whip and
harness maker； who keeps the Post Office； and is under submission
to a most rigorous wife of the Doubly Seceding Little Emmanuel
persuasion）； and went up to the house； attended by my landlord and
by Ikey。
Within； I found it； as I had expected； transcendently dismal。 The
slowly changing shadows waved on it from the heavy trees； were
doleful in the last degree； the house was ill…placed； ill…built；
ill…planned； and ill…fitted。 It was damp； it was not free from dry
rot； there was a flavor of rats in it； and it was the gloomy victim
of that indescribable decay which settles on all the work of man's
hands whenever it's not turned to man's account。 The kitchens and
offices were too large； and too remote from each other。 Above
stairs and below； waste tracts of passage intervened between
patches of fertility represented by rooms； and there was a mouldy
old well with a green growth upon it； hiding like a murderous trap；
near the bottom of the back…stairs； under the double row of bells。
One of these bells was labelled； on a black ground in faded white
letters； MASTER B。 This； they told me； was the bell that rang the
most。
〃Who was Master B。？〃 I asked。 〃Is it known what he did while the
owl hooted？〃
〃Rang the bell；〃 said Ikey。
I was rather struck by the prompt dexterity with which this young
man pitched his fur cap at the bell； and rang it himself。 It was a
loud； unpleasant bell； and made a very disagreeable sound。 The
other bells were inscribed according to the names of the rooms to
which their wires were conducted： as 〃Picture Room；〃 〃Double Room；〃
〃Clock Room；〃 and the like。 Following Master B。's bell to its
source I found that young gentleman to have had but indifferent
third…class accommodation in a triangular cabin under the cock…
loft； with a corner fireplace which Master B。 must have been
exceedingly small if he were ever able to warm himself at； and a
corner chimney…piece like a pyramidal staircase to the ceiling for
Tom Thumb。 The papering of one side of the room had dropped down
bodily； with fragments of plaster adhering to it； and almost
blocked up the door。 It appeared that Master B。； in his spiritual
condition； always made a point of pulling the paper down。 Neither
the landlord nor Ikey could suggest why he made such a fool of
himself。
Except that the house had an immensely large rambling loft at top；
I made no other discoveries。 It was moderately well furnished； but
sparely。 Some of the furnituresay； a thirdwas as old as the
house； the rest was of various periods within the last half…
century。 I was referred to a corn…chandler in the market…place of
the county town to treat for the house。 I went that day； and I
took it for six months。
It was just the middle of October when I moved in with my maiden
sister （I venture to call her eight…and…thirty； she is so very
handsome； sensible； and engaging）。 We took with us； a deaf stable…
man； my bloodhound Turk； two women servants； and a young person
called an Odd Girl。 I have reason to record of the attendant last
enumerated； who was one of the Saint Lawrence's Union Female
Orphans； that she was a fatal mistake and a disastrous engagement。
The year was dying early； the leaves were falling fast； it was a
raw cold day when we took possession； and the gloom of the house
was most depressing。 The cook （an amiable woman； but of a weak
turn of intellect） burst into tears on beholding the kitchen； and
requested that her silver watch might be delivered over to her
sister （2 Tuppintock's Gardens； Liggs's Walk； Clapham Rise）； in the
event of anything happening to her from the damp。 Streaker； the
housemaid； feigned cheerfulness； but was the greater martyr。 The
Odd Girl； who had never been in the country； alone was pleased； and
made arrangements for sowing an acorn in the garden outside the
scullery window； and rearing an oak。
We went； before dark； through all the naturalas opposed to
supernaturalmiseries incidental to our state。 Dispiriting
reports ascended （like the smoke） from the basement in volumes； and
descended from the upper rooms。 There was no rolling…pin； there
was no salamander （which failed to surprise me； for I don't know
what it is）； there was nothing in the house； what there was； was
broken； the last people must have lived like pigs； what could the
meaning of the landlord be？ Through these distresses； the Odd Girl
was cheerful and exemplary。 But within four hours after dark we
had got into a supernatural groove； and the Odd Girl had seen
〃Eyes；〃 and was in hysterics。
My sister and I had agreed to keep the haunting strictly to
ourselves； and my impression was； and still is； that I had not left
Ikey； when he helped to unload the cart； alone with the women； or
any one of them； for one minute。 Nevertheless； as I say； the Odd
Girl had 〃seen Eyes〃 （no other explanation