Hello there, come in, come in. Yes, it is dark isn't it? The nights draw in ever so quickly these days. There's a real bite in the air now - you'd almost think it was Winter! Here, let me take that coat from you. You must be freezing. Blowing quite a gale out there, by the sounds of it. You know, I remember a night like this oh.., many years back, when I was at school with old Monty. Hah! Now, there was a character and no mistake. Famed for his fireside stories. There's one he told me that fair set the hairs on the back of my neck a-rising (back when I was a wee lad, you understand.) He wrote it down later and, do you know, I believe I have a copy of it somewhere. Let me see...

Come, fetch yourself a warm drink, if you haven't one already. Take your ease. There's warm cocoa in the pan, and I'm sure I can find something a little stronger to slip in, to help warm your bones. Lovely. Ah, here's the tale! It's called 'Lost Hearts.' Got yer drink? Marvellous. Oh dear, the cat's jumped up on me now, and she does so hate to be disturbed. Be a good fellow will you, and turn the lights down. The fire's picking up, and I do like to see it in it's glory. Ahhh, there's nothing more companiable... Now then, 'It was, as far as I can ascertain, in September of the year 1811...' Lost Hearts' was written by Montague Rhodes James. It is performed here by Dion Winton-Polak, from the Scrolls podcast. This reading incorporates the following sounds, downloaded from freesound: 127254 howling-wind-real-02 and 127253 howling-wind-real-01 by klankbeeld (http://www.freesound.org/people/klankbeeld/) 27862 061226-fire-ms957 by ermine (http://www.freesound.org/people/ermine/) 156970 fireplace by martats (http://www.freesound.org/people/martats/) 44322 fireplace by inchadney (http://www.freesound.org/people/inchadney/) 151346 creaking-floor-upstairs by alienxxx (http://www.freesound.org/people/AlienXXX/) If you enjoyed 'Lost Hearts' I can highly recommend seeking out the work of Robert Lloyd Parry, a performer who puts my humble effort to shame. His theatrical schedule can be found at http://www.nunkie.co.uk/ as can the dvds & cds of his work. He will be appearing at the Abertoir festival this year. You may also wish to seek out A Podcast To The Curious, dedicated to the ghost stories of MR James. Happy Halloween.