The Room in the Tower and Other Ghost Stories JOSEPH SHERIDAN LE FANU, RUDYARD KIPLING and E. F BENSON Level 2 Retold by Carolyn Jones and Derek Strange Series Editors: Andy Hopkins and Jocelyn Poteetrg Hoon cerca tap snd Coma Sah ty nd pie HO Pe Ron ‘esc me ti ‘np er ‘Themis no eb ee ‘pt ig enn omen pny Cams Nas Ae pei pn ep od emote aetna ogee tec metal ‘sin ne aoe ey Re ti Lind i cin ih Contents Page Introduction y ‘The Woman in the Black Coat Joseph Sheridan Le Fama — 1 Imray Came Back Rudyard Kipling 14 ‘The Room in the Tower EF Bown 28 Activities 37Introduction Suddenly Toe up. Everything was darks and very quiet, but somebody ‘aso thee of my be Tere ss aad with gl and Bein the light was the Blind woman. She had Knife he oaker hand [A young wife goes to her new husbands beautifal house. At night somebody vise her ~ a woman in a Black coat, What docs she want? Who is she? Why does she have no eyes? Im Incl Imray’ fiends think he is dead, One day he was at his office. The next day he was not. What happened? Nobody knows, But che new people in Imray’: house are going to find ‘out Because Imray is going to fell them And the old woman, Mrs Stone. What is she tying to tell the ‘man every night in his sleep? Hl hair is white, and she is thin and weak, But her eyes are dangerous Do you want to sleep tonight? Then don read these stoves Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu (1814-73) was born in Dublin, lela. He is one of the most famous ghose story writes in the word He began ro write when he was very young, but most of his writing was for newspapers. In 1858, his wife died, and he stopped going out of his house or seeing people ~ and wrote Some of his best ghost stores and books. ‘Rudyard Kipling was born in India in 1865, His paren were English, He lived in India for many years,and wrote many books and shott stories about its people and animals. He wrote his famous children’s story Te Jule Book in 1894, He died in England in 1936 Edward Frederic Benson (1867—1940) was born in Berkshire, England. He wrote more than a hundred books i his if, and his _Bhost stories are famous now. He lived in the old town of Rye, Sussex in the south of England,‘The Woman in the Black Coat (fiom A Chapter in the History of 2 Tyrone Family by Jseph ‘Sheridan Le Fan, 1838) | as born into a rich and important family ip Tyrone, Ireland. was the younger of ewo daughters and we were the only children, My sister was six years older than me,s0 we didn't ply _much together when I was young and I was only ewelve years old when she got married. [remember the day of her wedding well. Many people came, all of them laughing, singing and happy. But Lele sad when my sister left wih her new husband, Mr Carevt. She was always very nice to me, nicer than my mother. And so I cried when she went sway to her new home in Dublin. My mother and father dida't love me = they wanted sons and were not very interested in me. ‘About a year after my ster got married, leter arrived from [Mr Carew, He ssid that my sister was ill and that she wanted to come home to Tyrone and stay with us, to be with he family. 1 was sad that she was ill but alo very happy about her visit “They'e leaving Dublin on Sunday’ my father told me, ‘and they'e arriving here on Tuesday evening’ “Tuesday came, and it was a very long day: Hour after hour ‘ame and went, and I listened all the time for my sister and her hhusband, Now the sky was dark and soon ie was midnight, but 1 couldn't sleep. I listened and waited. Suddenly, at about one f'clock in the morning, I heatd a noise far away. ran out of my bedroom and down to the living-room, “They're here! They'e here!’ I called co my father, and we ‘quickly opened the front door to we better We waited there fora few minutes and we heard the noise again, somebody crying far 1away in the night. But we saw nothing. There were no lights and no people there. We went outside, wating to say hello and to help my sister with her bags. But nobody was there: nobody came, I looked st my father and he looked at me. We dida’t understand. “Tinow I heard a nose} he sid. "Yes answered" heard i to, father, but where are they? We went back into the house without another word, We were suddenly afi The next day a man arrived and told us that my sister was dead, On Sunday she felt very ill, on Monday she was worse and fon Tuesday, at about one o'elack in the morning, she died .,.at the same time chat we were ouside the house, in the night, waiting for her T never forgot that night. For the next ewo years I was very sad ~ you could say that I stopped living. I didn’t wane to do anything fr speak t0 anyone. Me Carew soon married another young woman in Dublin and I fee angry that he forgot my sister so quickly I as now the only child ofa rich and important fami before I was fourteen years old men started to visit our home. They wanted to meet me and, perhaps, to marry me, But I didn’ like any of these men and T thought Iwas too young to be married. When I vas sixteen my mother took me to Dublin “Dublin isa big city’ she suid. “We're going to mect richer and more interesting men than the ones back home in Tyrone. We ‘an easly find you a good husband in Dublin’ In Dublin, [began to be happier. meta lot of friendly people and I went dancing every evening. A lot of young men came to speak to me and asked me to dance: [ liked talking to them. I Wie heard a noise, somebody eying for aay in the night. Bur we saw nothing There were no lights and no people ther.started to live and laugh agsin and I didn’t think about my dead sister all ehe time. But my mother was not so happy. She wanted me to find 2 husband quickly: One night before I went to bed she came into ‘my room and sd,"Do you know Lord Glenfallen?” ‘Oh yes! I answered.“He' that ugly old man fom Caherillagh? “Hes not ugly and he’ not old, Fanny! my mother said ‘gaickly."He' from a very rich and important family, too, and the wants to marry you. He loves you Loves me? Wants to marry me? But heb making a mistake, riother! I sid. love love him, I can't marry somebody I don't "Think about it, Fanny! my mother answered quietly."He' a good man and he wants to marty you, You'e a very lucky young My mother let the room and I sat quietly for a long time. Lord Glenfallen was nice Fiend him, no, but T did like him, He alvays talked about interesting things. I never felt happy at home with my mother and father but I always fee better when I talked to him. The next morning when T saw my mother I said only one word:"Yes! man, ehoughe. I didn't love Lord Glenfllen and I got married the next spring, and two days after our wedding we sid goodbye to my family and lef Tyrone ‘Three days later we arrived in Cahergillagh and 1 saw my Jnusbandls beauifal house fo the frst time. Ie was near a river and there were many tes and flowers in the garden, Birds sang inthe trees and the sky was blue. [stood next to im and looked at ill and fel ve ‘Come, my love! said my husband. "You must come in and rect Martha, She cooks and cleans and knows everything about the house? So we went into che house and I met Martha, 2 very happy 4 “Lord Glerfllen? He's that wply old men fom Cahergiagh?friendly old won 19 with smiling blue eyes. She showed me round the house, Suddenly I fele excited tobe there:it was avery happy place ~ women sang in the kitchen, men built fires in the living-room and there were dogs and cas everywhere ‘Come with me now, tmalam; said Martha, ‘and look at your bedroom. Then we can take up your bags and you can wash before dinner! I followed her and soon we arrived ata big brown oor. “This is your room, she said and she opened the door. I stood and looked, suddenly cold with fear, In front of me stood something big and black; didn't know what it was ..T thought it-was an old coat, but without anybody inside i. I jumped back quickly, ery afraid, and moved away ftom the door “Is something wrong, madam?" Martha asked me. Not T answered quickly "But I thought 1 saw something in there. I thought I aw a big, black Pethape i¢s noth coat there when you opened the door! Martha face went white with fear, "What's wrong? I asked her.’Now you look f “Something bad is going to happen’ she sid."When someone sees the black coat in this house, we know that something bad is rene? going to happen soon to the Glenfillen family 1 saw the black oat when I was a child and the next morning old Lord Glenfilien died, Something bad is going to happen now, madam Tenow it? ‘We went down to have dinner. I felt unhappy and afraid, but 1 dido’t sy anything to my husband about the black coat. wanted to forget about it and be happy again. ‘The next day Lord Glenfallen and I went for a walk together to look round the house and gardens because I wanted to know ‘my new home beter. “I ike this house and all the people here? I said. ‘And I'm» happy to be here with you, les much better than Tyrone: 6 fl excited tobe shrews avery happy place ~ women sang in ‘the hither, men bul fies the ving roms and thee were doge ‘nd ets everywhereMy husband was quiet for a Jong time. He walked with his head down, thinking, Then, suddenly, he turned to me, took my hhand and sid, "Fanny, listen to me, Listen catfully. There’ something 1 must ask you. Please, only go into the rooms in the font of the house. Never go into the rooms at the back of the building or into the Kile garden by the back door, Never. Do ‘you understand me, Fanny? His face was white and unhappy: T understood his words, but I didn't understand why he was suddenly a different man, Here at Cahergillagh he never smiled for laughed any more. Pechaps the back of the howe was dangerous, I chought. But he didn’t want to tlk about it any more. We went back fo the house without speaking and again I tried to forget his words and to be as happy as I vas before. {t-was about a month later that I met the other woman for the fist time. One day I wanted ta go for 3 walk in dhe gardens ~ it ‘vas a beautifal day and I ran up to my room after lunch t0 get ‘ny hat and coat, But when I opened the door of my room, there ‘was a woman sitting near the fire, She was about forty years old and she wore a black coat, Her fice was white and when I looked closely {saw that her eyes were white too ~ she was blind, ‘Madam; saidthisis my room. There ita mistake’ "Your room! she answered. A mistake? No, I don't chink so. don’ chink there's a mistake. Where is Lord Glenfillen?” “Down in the living-room I said “But who are you and wy are you here in my room?” “Tell Lord Glenfallen that I want him; was all she sid mus tll you that lam Lady Glenfillen and I want you to leave my room now I said “Lady Glenfillen? You are not, you ate not!” she cried and hit amy face very hard | cried out for help and soon Lord Glenfillen arrived. Iran out ‘ofthe room ashe ran in, and I waited outside to listen atthe door. did not hear every word but [knew that Lord Glenfillen was very 8 When Lopened the door of my rom, there ws 2 woman siting near the fre. She was about forty yar old angry and the blind woman was very unhappy. When he came out 1 asked him,’ Whois that woman and why is she in my bedroom?” ‘But my husband didnt answer me, Again his fice was white ‘with fear. His only words were, "Forget her But I did not forgee her and every day it was more and more dificult to talk to my husband, He was always quiet now, always sad and affaid: he sat for hours looking into the fre with his unhappy eyes. But I didn't know why and he didn't wane eo ell ‘One morning after breakfast, Lord Glenfallen saddenly said have the answer! We must go avay to another country, to France ‘or Spain pethaps. What do you think, Fanny? 9He didnt wait for my answer but left the room very quickly. 1 sat and thought for 2 long time. Why must we leave didn't understand, And I didn’t want co go too far and father in Tyrone. They were old now and my father was sometimes il They didn't love me very much but { wanted ta be near ther, [thought about i all day and I didn't know what co say to my husband when he attived back in the evening and came in to dinner I sid nothing. Aer dinner I was very tired and I went up to my bedroom early. I wanted to have a good night’ sleep and think about tall again the next day I closed my eyes and went to sleep. But I did not sleep well because I dreamed of the black ‘Suddenly I woke up. Everything was dark and very quiet, bat, somebody was atthe end of my bed. There was a hand with light, and behind the light was the bine woman, She bad a knife in her other hand, I tried to get out of bed and fun to the door, bbut she topped me-‘Ifyou want to live, don't move’ she sid. "Tell me one thing ~ did Lord Glenfllen marry you?” “Yes, he did I answered, ‘He married me in fo of a hundred people’ ‘Well, hats sad) she said ‘Because I dont think he told you that he had a wife... me, Iam his wife, not you, young woman, YYou must leave this house tomorrow, because if you stay here you see this knife? I am going to kill you with it! Then she left the room without a sound, I didn’ sleep again that night. ‘When morning came I told my husband everything, Who is the bind woman?" I asked him. 'She told me lastnight that she is your wife that I am not your wife "Did you go into the rooms atthe back of the house?” asked ‘my husband angrily.‘ told you that you must never go there!” ‘But I didn’ I answered.'T was in my bed al night. She came to me Please tell me what is happening: 10 ‘Suddenly I woke up Everything was dan and very qui to a the end of my bed. but somebodyMy husband's face was white again and he didn't speak for 2 long time, Then he sid,’No, she is not my wife. You are. Don't listen to her. She doesnt know what she is saying’ And he lef the Tran to find Martha. I didnt like this house any more. My husband was a difficult man and I dido't understand him. Who was the blind woman? I wanted to know everything. id Martha when 1 found herSit down and listen to me. What I am going t0 tell you is not very nice ‘The blind woman, the woman in the Back coat, is dead. You sw her ghost. She was married to your husband and she was Lady Glenfillen, Nobody knows how she died, Her bedroom was 2t the back of the house. Somebody saw your husband with a knife in his hand on the night she died. But did he kill her? Nobody knows. When we found her, the knife was on the flor next to ‘Don't ery, madam? hher and her eyes... somebody eu her eyes out afer she died Perhaps he didn’t want her to see his other women ... his next wife. you I dido’t wait to speak to my husband again, I Tet that day. Iwas too afiaid to stay another minute at Cahergillagh. knew thatthe to come back again and Kill me.I said tzoodbye to Martha, took may bags and told my driver to take me back to Tyrone 1am happy living here with my mother and father now.The house is quiet I sleep well each night and they are friendlier to ime than they were before. Sometimes my dead sister visits me at night, but lam never affaid, She tells me cha the blind woman is trying to find me at Cahergillagh and that she wants to kill me She is jealous of me; but she can newer find me there. She must blind woman was goi wait for the next Lady Glenfillen, ‘The blind women, the wor inthe Black cou, is dead. You saw her host Ske was maried to your husband and she was Lady Glenfalen”Imray Came Back (fom The Return of Imray by Rudyard Kipling, 1892) (One day Inseay was there, in the lite town in the north of india where he lived and worked, and the next day he was not. He isoppeared. One day he was with his frends, having a deink at the bar, laughing with them, friendly happy, and then the next ‘morning he was not at his office, his house was quiet, and nobody could find him. “Where did he go his friends asked each other atthe bar: And why so suddenly? Why did he say nothing to us? ‘They looked in the rivers near the town, and along the roads bout they found nothing. They telephoned all the hotels in the nearest big city, but nobody there knew anything about Tray ays went by and Imray did not come back. His friends in the town slowly stopped talking abour him at the bar and at the office; they began to forget about him. They sold his old ext, his _gans and all his other things, and his bos wroce lester to Imays ‘mother, back in England, and told her that her son was dead Disappeared Imniy’s house stood unlived-in and quiet for three or four Jong, hot summer months. The hottest weather was finished when my fiend Strickland, a policeman, moved to live in i People sid that Strickland was a very strange man but I always went to see him and have dinner with im when I vas in the town working for a day or two. He had one or two other friends too; he liked hie guns, he liked fishing and he liked his dog ~ a very big dog, called Tievens. Tetjens aways went to work with Strickland and often helped him in his police work, +o the people Of the town were quite affsid of her, Tietjens moved into the hhowe with Strickland and she took the room next co Strickland’, where she had her food and where she slept. “ TT io i (s Tiyens ahaa went to work with Strickland and ofem helped hi in his police work, 0 the people of the toun were quite aiid of her(One diy, some weeks after Strickland went to live in Imray’ house, arived in the town at about five o'clock one afternoon and found that there were no rooms a the hotel, 50 T went round to Strickland’ place. Tietens met me at the door, showing her teeth, not moving, She knew me quite well by this time but she did not want me to goin, She waited for Strickland to come and and ‘was happy €0 give me a room for two or three days, and I went to get my bag ftom my ear Te was a nice house, with a big garden. Inside, chere wi say a friendly ‘Hello’ to me before she moved 2%: St sight room all white and clean, Strickland gave me a good room and at six o'clock his Indian servant, Bahadur Khan, brought ws an carly dinner. “T must go back to the police station for an hour of ewo after dinner, 'm affaid. My men are questioning 2 man down there and I want to know what answers theyre getting’ Strickland sid, He let me atthe house with a good cigat, and with Tiegens, the dog. It was a very hot, late-summer evening. Soon after the sun went down, the rain came. [sat near the window of the sd the rain and thought about my family and friends back home in Engl: and put her head on my leg, looking sad.The room was dark behind me and the only noise was the noise of the rain driving down ou ofthe night sky Suddenly, without a sound, Strickland’s servant was there, standing next to me. His cost and shire were wet from the rain “Sorry sit-There's a man here st, He’ asking to see somebody? the servant sid 1 asked hien to bring alight and I went to the front door, but when the light came, there was nobody there. When I turned, 1 living-room, wate 18. Tietens came and sat next co me thought I sw 2 face looking in through one of the windows fiom the garden. Ie disappeared quickly ethaps he went round tothe back door! I sid to the servant, 16 1 thought saa fae boing in though ome ofthe windows fm the _garden, He dsappened quicklys0 we went through the living-room and the quiet, datk kitchen to the back door. But there was nobody there. went back t0 my chair and my thoughts by the window, not very happy with Strickland’, servant and not very happy about the face at the nvindow, the strange visitor in the ran. I took some sugar with ‘me to give to Tietjens, but she was out in the garden, standing in the rain, and did not Want to come inside. She looked frightened, 1 thought. Some time later Strickland arrived home, very wet, and che firs ching he asked was: Any visitors? [told him abous the disappearing viscor inthe rain.‘T thought perhaps he had something important to tell you! I sad,"but ehen he ran away’ without giving bis name Strickland sid nothing and his face showed nothing. He took cout a cigarette and sat smoking it for a few mines without a wor. ‘Ac ine o'clock he sid he was tired. I was tired too, 50 we got up to go to bed, Tiejens was ouside in the nin, very wet Strickland called her again and again, but she did not want to ‘ome into the house ‘She does this every evening nov! he said sadly. T can't understand it, She’ got a good, warm room in here, but she doesn’ come inside and slep in it, She sated doing this soon afer we came to lve in this place. Lets leave her. She can sleep ‘out there ifshe wants ta! But I knew he was not happy to leave her outside inthe rin ‘The rain started and stopped again al night, but Tieyens stayed outside, She slepe neat my bedroom window and I heard her roving about. [slept very ightly and I had bad dreams. In my half-sleep I dreamt chat somebody was calli asking me to come to them, to help them. Then I woke wp, cold ‘with fear and found there was nobody there. Once in the night I looked ot of the window and saw the big dog out there in the to me in the night 18 Teens ws outside in the in, vry wet. Stickland allel her again and again, but she di not want 9 come inrin, with the hair on her neck and back standing up and a ffightened, angry look on her face. 1 slept again but woke up suddenly when somebody tried to open the door of my room. "They did not come in but walked on through the house. Later, thought I heard the sound of someone erying, Iran through to Strickland’, room, thinking he was ill or chat he wanted my help, bt he Laughed at my fears and told me to go back to bed, I did not sleep again after that. I listened to the rain and waited forthe firs light of morning 1 sued in the house with Strickland and his dog for two more ays. Tiesjens was quite happy inside the house all day, but as soon ts ight came she moved out into the garden and stayed there. ‘understood. [was very happy in the house in daytime, too, but in the evening and at night I did not like it. There was something very strange about the place. | heard the noise of feet om the ‘oor, bt there was nobody there, I heard doors open and close, heard chairs move and I thought somebody watched me from the darkest corners of the rooms when T walked round the howse ng I talked eo Strickland. ‘Tm ‘going to the hotel tomorrow ~ they've got a room there now. ‘At dinner on the third eve mn very sorry but I can’ stay here, I's the noises in the house you see. I'm not geting any sleep at night and I can’t work well in the day because I'm too tired He listened carefilly and [knew he understood, Strickland isa very understanding man. Stay with me for another day or two, my friend? he sai, Please don't go. Wait and see what happens. 1 know what you're talking about. I know there’ something very strange about this house, and I want to know what iti. I chink Tietjens knows ~ she doesn't ike coming inside afer dark Suddenly he stopped talking, his eyes on one comer of the ceiling, above my chait. “Well, ook at that!" he said quiedy T turned and looked up. There was the head of @ very 2» ‘There was the head of avery dangerous bowm snake, called a ‘hart’ Jn India, looking at us with old ees fom a small door in the comer of the clingdangerous brown snake, called a ‘kant’ in India. Ie was looking at ‘ws with its cold litle eyes fiom a small door in that corner ofthe ceiling. I stood up quickly and moved away from that corner of the room = I do not like any snakes, am afta of them, and the Karat’ is one of the most dangerous and fFightening snakes. It kills so easly and so quickly. ‘Let’ get it down and break is back? I si. Hes very hard to catch those brown snakes, you know! Strickland answered."They move so fist But let try. Bring chat light over eattied the light actos to the corner ofthe room where the snake was, watching i carefully all the time, Ie did not move. Strickland carried his chai over to the same comer, took one of his guns ftom a cupboard near the door and climbed up on the chair. But the snake siw him coming. Its head suddenly ‘disappeared and we heard it move away across th ceiling above cour heads ‘Snakes like it up there in the ceiling ~ its nice and warm, sid Swrickland."But I don't lke having them there. 'm going up to catch it He pushed open the small door in che ceiling and put his head and arms through. Hee had the gun in one handy ready to hit the snake with ie and break its back. I watched from below heard Strickland say:'T can't see that snake, but ... Hell! Whats this? There’ something up here ..." and 1 saw him pushing at something with the gun,"I can't quite get it he sid and then suddenly; “Ies coming down! Be carefal down there! Stand back!” 1 jumped back. Something hit the centre ofthe ceiling hard fom above, broke noisily through it into the room and hit the dinner table, fe broke some glasses and plates on the table. There ‘as water all over the flor. L went over With the light and looked down at the thing on the table, Strickland climbed quickly off 2 Something hit the contre of the cling hard fom above, broke nos lng tnt the wom and it the dinner ablethe chair and stood next to me. It was a man;a dead man, “T think; Strickland sid lowlythat ous friend Lay is back? Suddenly something moved out om under one leg of the thing on the table. It was the brown snake, the ‘kart’, srying to get say. “So the snake came down with our dead fiend, 1 se Scrickland said and he pushed the snake off the table onto the floor hit it with his gum and broke its back. I looked at the dying snake on the door and ssid nothing. Strickland went over to cupboard and took out a bottle of whisky and two glases. He gave me a drink. “Is Imray? Lasked "Yes That’ Imray! he answered, ’And somebody killed him: Now we knew why there were noises round the house at night, and why Tietjens did not ike sleeping inside the house. ‘She Knew that Imray was up there, ded, She knew chat Imray’ host walked through the house at night, trying to find somebody to help him 'A minute later we heatd Titjens outside She pushed open the door with her nose and came in. She looked at the dead man on the table and sat down on the floor next to Strickland, looking tp at im, “You knew Imny was up here al che time, over our heads! Strickland sad tothe dog, ooking down at her."Somebody killed hhim and perhaps you know who did it, too, Dead men do not climb up into the ceilings of houses and close the ceiling door behind them. So the question is who pur him chere and closed the ceiling door? And who killed him? Lee think about it? “Let think about iti the other room, I sid."Not here? “You right! sid Strickland, with a smile. "Let's go into the living-room. “We went through to the living-room and sat there, smoking cigaretes and drinking our whisky. Strickland sid nothing, but m4 sat quietly and thought for a minute or two, His gun was on the floor next to his chair, ‘So Imray is back’ he said again, slowly. “You know, when took this house, 1 took Imray’ three servants, too, They stayed hhere to work for me. Did one of them kil him? Iwas not quite happy about thae when I quesioned them at the time Imray diappeared, you know! "Why not call them in, one at 2 time, and question them again? I said. "See what they have ts ‘There was a noise atthe back door, ftom the kitchen. It was Bahadur Khan, Strickland’ servant, coming in to take che dinner things away: Strickland called him and he man came into the living-room without any noise, He wore no shoes, He as a tll au songlooking man, He good quietly near eh door and “les a very warm night, Bahadur Khan, Do you think more Strickland began. “Yes sit I think iis! the servant answered. “When did you fist sar to work for me, Bahadur Khan’ ‘When you came to live in this house, si You know that, After ‘Mr Imray suddenly went away to Europe sit? “Hee went away to Europe, you say? Why do you say that? “All the servants say he went to Europe sit? Do they? That’ very strange, Bahadur Khan. 1 asked thei before, bur they didn't know. You sid it to me, Bahadur Khan — but they didnt know: And Mr Imray went to Eutope, you sy but hhe never said a word about it to his friends or to his other servants before he went. He told only you, Bahadur Khan. Do your not chink that i strange?” eis strange, sr’ the man answered very quietly ‘And why do you say it? Why do you want ws to think Mr Imray went to Europe ‘The tall man did not answer. He looked very frightened now: 3