The first of these stories was written for the library of the Queen’s Doll’s House, and was printed in the Book thereof; I gratefully acknowledge the gracious permission granted by Her Majesty to have it reprinted in this volume.
For like permissions from the editors of the Atlantic Monthly, Empire Review, London Mercury, and Eton Chronic I return thanks.
M. R. JAMES.
September 1925.
CONTENTS
| PAGE | |
| The Haunted Doll’s House | [ 9] |
| The Uncommon Prayer-Book | [ 35] |
| A Neighbour’s Landmark | [ 70] |
| A View from a Hill | [ 97] |
| A Warning to the Curious | [ 138] |
| An Evening’s Entertainment | [ 176] |
THE HAUNTED DOLL’S HOUSE.
“I SUPPOSE you get stuff of that kind through your hands pretty often?” said Mr Dillet, as he pointed with his stick to an object which shall be described when the time comes: and when he said it, he lied in his throat, and knew that he lied. Not once in twenty years—perhaps not once in a lifetime—could Mr Chittenden, skilled as he was in ferreting out the forgotten treasures of half-a-dozen counties, expect to handle such a specimen. It was collectors’ palaver, and Mr Chittenden recognised it as such.
“Stuff of that kind, Mr Dillet! It’s a museum piece, that is.”
“Well, I suppose there are museums that’ll take anything.”