The Haunted House (short story by Charles Dickens)

"The Haunted House" by Charles Dickens is a humorous short story featuring a group of ghost hunters who visit a supposedly haunted mansion. They encounter various bizarre and comical phenomena, which they initially believe are supernatural events. However, it is eventually revealed that these illusions are caused by the residents themselves, who are cleverly staging the hauntings to conceal their own sins and misdeeds. The story explores themes of deception, the nature of fear, and human vanity, using wit and irony to challenge the assumption that ghosts are the source of mysterious happenings.