Summary

Arthur Kipps’ family gathers around the hearth in “Christmas Eve.” Arthur goes outside to gaze at the surrounding nature and reminisces on the first time he saw their current house, Monk's Piece. His former employer, Mr Bentley, showed it to him. A few years later, Arthur married his wife, Esmé, and bought Monk's Piece, where they live happily today. Mr Bentley blames himself for Arthur’s past trauma. He is the one who sent Arthur on a work-related mission to Eel Marsh House in Crythin Gifford where some mysterious incident deeply affected Arthur. Arthur suffers from nervous breakdowns as a result of his time at Eel Marsh House, which he never speaks of. He is glad that the sky is clear and the air crisp-- the weather has been foggy and gloomy lately, greatly affecting Arthur’s mood. Arthur...