Chapter IV.—Ghosts of the Dead.Mrs. Fox-Drummond was a well-known society woman, and resided in Surbiton in a spacious mansion standing in its own grounds. A widow about 50 years of age and well-to-do, she entertained a good deal, and, with no children of her own, acted as fairy-godmother to a large number of nephews and nieces whose parents were not so liberally endowed with this world's goods as she was.
A strong character and of literary tastes, she had written several novels which, if they had not had a large circulation, had nevertheless been favourably received by the Press. She was also interested in art and possessed a number of paintings of considerable value, a very fine collection of old china, and a harpsichord of the beginning of the 18th century. She came of a very old famil
