Ghost Stories by M.R. James

First published in 1895, Lost Hearts is a classic paranormal tale written by M.R. James, an author considered to be the originator of the modern age ghost story. Though popular in written form, his stories were in fact designed to be read out loud - something he would do every Christmas in his role as housemaster to young boys boarding at Eton school. In this particular story we meet Stephen Elliott, a young orphan boy who is sent to stay with his much older cousin, Mr. Abney, at a remote country mansion. His cousin is a reclusive alchemist, obsessed with making himself immortal. Stephen is repeatedly troubled by visions of a young gypsy girl and a travelling Italian boy, but what could they be trying to tell him?