1. What does Ned's motive seem to be when he first brings up the subject of whether the house has a ghost?
(a) He is looking for an excuse to back out of buying the house.
(b) He is joking about how old the house is.
(c) He thinks that living in a "haunted" house will add to his reputation as a writer.
(d) He is trying to frighten Mary.

2. What is the name of Mary and Ned's house?
(a) Pangbourne.
(b) Lyng.
(c) Merton.
(d) Boyne.

3. What explanation does Ned give Mary at the time of the mysterious visit in October?
(a) It was Peters, the man working on their stable drains.
(b) It was the boyfriend of Trimmle, the parlor maid.
(c) He refuses to talk about the incident.
(d) It was a tourist who had heard stories about their ghost.

4. Why does Mary ask the mysterious young man whether he has an appointment with Ned?
(a) She is actually not sure that she knows where Ned is at the moment.
(b) She is trying to protect Ned's writing time.
(c) She instinctively mistrusts the young man.
(d) Ned has specifically asked her to turn away visitors.

5. After Mary thinks more about the house and its ghost, what does she begin to wonder?
(a) Whether it is possible that Alida lied to them about the ghost.
(b) Whether her household servants have ever seen the ghost.
(c) Whether she might actually already know the identity of the ghost.
(d) Whether Ned has seen the ghost and this is the cause of his strange mood.

Short Answer Questions

1. When they are all laughing about the idea of a ghost, what does it mean that Mary "noted a certain flatness of tone in Alida's answering hilarity" (83)?

2. When the story opens, in which room of her house is Mary waiting?

3. When does Mary first realize that Ned is missing?

4. When Mary finally catches up with Ned on that October day, what is he doing?

5. Why is Mary unsure what Ned has or has not already told her about Beb Elwell?

(see the answer key)

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