Yet still to choose a brat like you, To haunt a man of forty-two, Was no great compliment!" "I'm not so young, Sir," he replied, "As you might think. The fact is, In caverns by the water-side, And other places that I've tried, I've had a lot of practice: "But I have never taken yet A strict domestic part, And in my flurry I forget The Five Good Rules of Etiquette We have to know by heart." My sympathies were warming fast Towards the little fellow: He was so utterly aghast At having found a Man at last, And looked so scared and yellow. "At least," I said, "I'm glad to find A Ghost is not a dumb thing! But pray sit down: you'll feel inclined (If, like myself, you have not dined) To take a snack of something: "Though, certainly, you don't appear A thing to offer food to! And then I shall be glad to hear — If you will say them loud and clear — The Rules that you allude to." "Thanks! You shall hear them by and by. This is a piece of luck!" "What may I offer you?" said I. "Well, since you are so kind, I'll try A little bit of duck. "One slice! And may I ask you for Another drop of gravy?" I sat and looked at him in awe, For certainly I never saw A thing so white and wavy. And still he seemed to grow more white, More vapoury, and wavier — Seen in the dim and flickering light,