New-York tribune., 1920-03-10
Books

"The Tall Villa" by Lucas Malet
(Doran), is a novel, but it may we'll
serve as textbook for those who want
to know how to entertain ghost. There
need be no question that such advice
Is needed. For all the interest of the
present generation in psychical research,
we treat apparitions with scant cour-
tesy. Suppose q visitor goes into
haunted room and at midnight is awak-
ened by spectre who carries bloody
dagger in. one hand and his ghostly
head in the other; does the guest ask
the ghost to put his things down and
stay a while? He does not. Instead,
he rushes screaming from the room or
pulls the bedclothes over his head and
dies of fright
Ghosts walk because they crave So
ciety and they get precious little of it.
Frances Copley, the heroine of "The
Tall Villa" managed things much bet
ter. When the apparition of Lord OK
ley first appeared to her she did not
faint or scream. On the contrary, the
author tells US, "The breeding, in which
Frances Copley trusted, did not desert
her now. After the briefest interval
she went on playing-she very much
knew not what, dscords more than
probably, as she afterward rehected!"
After all, Lord Oxley may have been
ghost, but he was still a gentleman.
Indeed, when she saw him later she
perceived that the shadow chad grown,
in soma degree, substantial, taking on
for the most part, definite outline,
definite form and shape. That, namely,
Of young man Of notably distinguished
bearing, dressed (in as far as, through
the sullen evening light, Frances could
make out) in clothes Of the highes.
fashion, though according to long dis
carded coloring and cut"
From friends Of the family Frances
learned that young Oxley, who had been
dead about a century and half, had
shot himself on account Of unrequited
love. After having looked him up and
found that he was an eligible ghost in
every particular, Frances decided to
take him up. She continued to play
for him without the discords. In fact,
she began to look forwsrd to his after
noon calls with great deal of pleasure
Her husband did not understand her,
She did not like his friends, and his
friends friends were impossible Ok
ley's calls, on the other hand, wer5 a
social triumph. He was punctilously
exclusive. Nobody else could even see
him. When he came into the room
others often noticed that the room grew
suddenly and surprisingly chilly, but
the author fails to point out whether
that was due to Lord Oxley's station in
life or after life.
Bit by bit the acquaintance between
Frances and the ghost ripened. At first
she never looked at him directly, but
regarded his shadow in the mirror. And
they communicated only through music
Later Frances made so bold as to speak
to his lordship.
when sou first came," she said, her
voice yelled, husky, even little broken
II was afraid. thought only Of my.
self. was terrified both at you and
what you might demand from me. ]
hastcned to leave this house, to go away
and try to forget. But ( wasn't per-
mitted to forget. While I was away
much concerning you was told me which
changed my feeling toward you ane
showed me my duty. I have come back
Of my own free will am still afraid
but no longer mind being afraid. Ny
desire now is not to avoid, but rathe,
to meet you. For, as I have learned
We ara hnsfolk, you and I; snd since
thts house Is mine you are In sense
my Kusst. Of that ! have come to b,