Page:The Naturalisation of the Supernatural.pdf/289

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
Haunted Houses
269

stood behind the couch for about half an hour, and then as usual walked to the door. I went after her, on the excuse of getting a book, and saw her pass along the hall, until she came to the garden door, where she disappeared. I spoke to her as she passed the foot of the stairs, but she did not answer, although as before she stopped and seemed as though about to speak.' On July 31st, some time after I had gone up to bed, my second sister E., who had remained downstairs talking in another sister's room, came to me saying that some one had passed her on the stairs. I tried then to persuade her that it was one of the servants, but next morning found it could not have been so, as none of them had been out of their rooms at that hour, and E.'s more detailed description tallied with what I had already seen."

During this period of two years the figure was also seen by at least three other inmates of the house, none of them knowing what the others had seen.

(1) Mrs. K. writes:

"29th March, 1892.

"While staying at———, in the autumn of 1883, I was coming down the stairs, about five in the afternoon, when I saw a tall figure in black cross the hall, push open the drawing-room door, and go in. At the time I thought she was a Sister of Mercy, from her long veil, the figure being entirely substantial, and like that of a real person, although on others making inquiries, no one had called.

"This, I may mention, was the year before I heard of any appearance being known of in the house."

Mrs. K. adds that she saw the figure on two other occasions.

(2) Mr. W. H. C. Morton writes:

"31st December, 1891.
"On or about December 18th, 1883, I was playing with a school-friend on the path in front of the drawing-room win-