J. S. LE FANU'S
GHOSTLY TALES,

VOLUME 2

An Authentic Narrative of
a Haunted House (1862)

and

Ultor De Lacy:
A Legend of Cappercullen (1861)

by
Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu

CONTENTS

An Authentic Narrative of
a Haunted House

[The Editor of the UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE submits the following veryremarkable statement, with every detail of which he has been for someyears acquainted, upon the ground that it affords the most authentic andample relation of a series of marvellous phenoma, in nowise connectedwith what is technically termed "spiritualism," which he has anywheremet with. All the persons—and there are many of them living—upon whoseseparate evidence some parts, and upon whose united testimony others, ofthis most singular recital depend, are, in their several walks of life,respectable, and such as would in any matter of judicial investigationbe deemed wholly unexceptionable witnesses. There is not an incidenthere recorded which would not have been distinctly deposed to on oathhad any necessity existed, by the persons who severally, and some ofthem in great fear, related their own distinct experiences. The Editorbegs most pointedly to meet in limine the suspicion, that he iselaborating a trick, or vouching for another ghost of Mrs. Veal. As amere story the narrative is valueless: its sole claim to attention isits absolute truth. For the good faith of its relator he pledges his ownand the character of this Magazine. With the Editor's concurrence, thename of the watering-place, and some special circumstances in noessential way bearing upon the peculiar character of the story, butwhich might have indicated the locality, and possibly annoyed personsinterested in house property there, have been suppressed by thenarrator. Not the slightest liberty has been taken with the narrative,which is presented precisely in the terms in which the writer of it, whoemploys throughout the first person, would, if need were, fix it in theform of an affidavit.]

Within the last eight years—the precise date I purposely omit—I I wasordered by my physician, my health being in an unsatisfactory state, tochange my residence to one upon the sea-coast; and accordingly, I took ahouse for a year in a fashionable watering-place, at a moderate distancefrom the city in which I had previously resided, and connected with itby a railway.

Winter was setting in when my removal thither was decided upon; butthere was nothing whatever dismal or depressing in the change. The houseI had taken was to all appearance, and in point of convenience, too,quite a modern one. It formed one in a cheerful row, with small gardensin front, facing the sea, and commanding sea air and sea views inperfection. In the rear it had coach-house and stable, and between themand the house a considerable grass-plot, with some flower-beds,interposed.

Our family consisted of my wife and myself, with three children, theeldest about nine years old, she and the next in age being girls; andthe youngest, between six and seven, a boy. To these were added sixservants, whom, although for certain reasons I decline giving their realnames, I shall indicate, for the sake of clearness, by arbitrary ones.There was a nurse, Mrs. Southerland; a nursery-maid, Ellen Page; thecook, Mrs. Greenwood; and the housemaid, Ellen Faith; a butler, whom Ishall call Smith, and his son, James, about two-and-twenty.

We came out to take possession at about seven o'clock in the evening;every thing was comfortable and cheery; good fires lighted, the roomsneat and airy, and a general air of preparation and comfort, highlyconducive to good spirits and pleasant anticipations.

The sitting-rooms were large and cheerful, and they and the bed-roomsmore than ordinarily lofty, the kitchen and servants' rooms, on the same