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determined to keep my secret； until the time agreed upon for the present
general disclosure。 Agitated by a multitude of curious thoughts； I retired to
my room； that night； prepared to encounter some new experience of a
spectral character。 Nor was my preparation needless； for； waking from an
uneasy sleep at exactly two o'clock in the morning； what were my feelings
to find that I was sharing my bed with the skeleton of Master B。！
I sprang up； and the skeleton sprang up also。 I then heard a plaintive
voice saying； 〃Where am I？ What is become of me？〃 and； looking hard in
that direction； perceived the ghost of Master B。
The young spectre was dressed in an obsolete fashion： or rather； was
not so much dressed as put into a case of inferior pepper…and… salt cloth；
made horrible by means of shining buttons。 I observed that these buttons
went； in a double row； over each shoulder of the young ghost； and
appeared to descend his back。 He wore a frill round his neck。 His right
hand （which I distinctly noticed to be inky） was laid upon his stomach；
connecting this action with some feeble pimples on his countenance； and
his general air of nausea； I concluded this ghost to be the ghost of a boy
who had habitually taken a great deal too much medicine。 〃Where am I？〃
said the little spectre； in a pathetic voice。 〃And why was I born in the
Calomel days； and why did I have all that Calomel given me？〃
I replied； with sincere earnestness； that upon my soul I couldn't tell
him。
〃Where is my little sister；〃 said the ghost； 〃and where my angelic little
wife； and where is the boy I went to school with？〃
I entreated the phantom to be comforted； and above all things to take
heart respecting the loss of the boy he went to school with。 I represented to
him that probably that boy never did； within human experience； come out
well； when discovered。 I urged that I myself had； in later life； turned up
several boys whom I went to school with； and none of them had at all
answered。 I expressed my humble belief that that boy never did answer。 I
represented that he was a mythic character； a delusion； and a snare。 I
recounted how； the last time I found him； I found him at a dinner party
behind a wall of white cravat； with an inconclusive opinion on every
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possible subject； and a power of silent boredom absolutely Titanic。 I
related how； on the strength of our having been together at 〃Old
Doylance's；〃 he had asked himself to breakfast with me （a social offence
of the largest magnitude）； how； fanning my weak embers of belief in
Doylance's boys； I had let him in； and how； he had proved to be a fearful
wanderer about the earth； pursuing the race of Adam with inexplicable
notions concerning the currency； and with a proposition that the Bank of
England should； on pain of being abolished； instantly strike off and
circulate； God knows how many thousand millions of ten…and…sixpenny
notes。
The ghost heard me in silence； and with a fixed stare。 〃Barber！〃 it
apostrophised me when I had finished。
〃Barber？〃 I repeatedfor I am not of that profession。
〃Condemned；〃 said the ghost； 〃to shave a constant change of
customersnow； menow； a young mannow； thyself as thou artnow；
thy fathernow； thy grandfather； condemned； too； to lie down with a
skeleton every night； and to rise with it every morning〃
（I shuddered on hearing this dismal announcement。）
〃Barber！ Pursue me！〃
I had felt； even before the words were uttered； that I was under a spell
to pursue the phantom。 I immediately did so； and was in Master B。's room
no longer。
Most people know what long and fatiguing night journeys had been
forced upon the witches who used to confess； and who； no doubt； told the
exact truthparticularly as they were always assisted with leading
questions； and the Torture was always ready。 I asseverate that； during my
occupation of Master B。's room； I was taken by the ghost that haunted it；
on expeditions fully as long and wild as any of those。 Assuredly； I was
presented to no shabby old man with a goat's horns and tail （something
between Pan and an old clothesman）； holding conventional receptions； as
stupid as those of real life and less decent； but； I came upon other things
which appeared to me to have more meaning。
Confident that I speak the truth and shall be believed； I declare without
hesitation that I followed the ghost； in the first instance on a broom…stick；
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and afterwards on a rocking…horse。 The very smell of the animal's paint
especially when I brought it out； by making him warmI am ready to
swear to。 I followed the ghost； afterwards； in a hackney coach； an
institution with the peculiar smell of which； the present generation is
unacquainted； but to which I am again ready to swear as a combination of
stable； dog with the mange； and very old bellows。 （In this； I appeal to
previous generations to confirm or refute me。） I pursued the phantom； on a
headless donkey： at least； upon a donkey who was so interested in the state
of his stomach that his head was always down there； investigating it； on
ponies； expressly born to kick up behind； on roundabouts and swings；
from fairs； in the first cabanother forgotten institution where the fare
regularly got into bed； and was tucked up with the driver。
Not to trouble you with a detailed account of all my travels in pursuit
of the ghost of Master B。； which were longer and more wonderful than
those of Sinbad the Sailor； I will confine myself to one experience from
which you may judge of many。
I was marvellously changed。 I was myself； yet not myself。 I was
conscious of something within me； which has been the same all through
my life； and which I have always recognised under all its phases and
varieties as never altering； and yet I was not the I who had gone to bed in
Master B。's room。 I had the smoothest of