ke strange mollusks, crawled upon the beach to dry; by misty black
barges, the more misty and indistinct seen through its mysterious veil,
the river fog was slowly rising. So rolled away and rose from the
heart of the Haunted Man, etc., etc.

They stopped before a quaint mansion of red brick. The Goblin waved
his hand without speaking.

"I see," said the Haunted Man, "a gay drawing-room. I see my old
friends of the club, of the college, of society, even as they lived and
moved. I see the gallant and unselfish men, whom I have loved, and the
snobs whom I have hated. I see strangely mingling with them, and now
and then blending with their forms, our old friends Dick Steele,
Addison, and Congreve. I observe, though, that these gentlemen have a
habit of getting too much in the way. The royal standard of Queen
Anne, not in itself a beautiful ornament, is rather too prominent in
the picture. The long galleries of black oak, the formal furniture,
the old portraits, are picturesque, but depressing. The house is damp.
I enjoy myself better here on the lawn, where they are getting up a
Vanity Fair. See, the bell rings, the curtain is rising, the puppets
are brought out for a new play. Let me see."

The Haunted Man was pressing forward in his eagerness, but the hand of
the Goblin stayed him, and pointing to his feet he saw, between him and
the rising curtain, a new-made grave. And bending above the grave in
passionate grief, the Haunted Man beheld the phantom of the previous
night.

* * * * *

The Haunted Man started, and--woke. The bright sunshine streamed into
the room. The air was sparkling with frost. He ran joyously to the
window and opened it. A small boy saluted him with "Merry Christmas."
The Haunted Man instantly gave him a Bank of England note. "How much
like Tiny Tim, Tom, and Bobby that boy looked,--bless my soul, what a
genius this Dickens has!"

A knock at the door, and Boots entered.

"Consider your salary doubled instantly. Have you read David
Copperfield?"

"Yezzur."

"Your salary is quadrupled. What do you think of the Old Curiosity
Shop?"

The man instantly burst into a torrent of tears, and then into a roar
of laughter.

"Enough! Here are five thousand pounds. Open a porter-house, and call
it, 'Our Mutual Friend.' Huzza! I feel so happy!" And the haunted
Man danced about the room.

And so, bathed in the light of that blessed