He stopped kicking around and just cried.

After some solid smacks to the boy's bare bottom he finally stopped

"I hope I have made myself clear about this behavior of yours"

“I’ll be good!” The boy sniffled and he tried to get up from his lap. His bottom felt sore for him.

The man helped him get up. "Now tell me, what are you doing in this house?"

“I live here.” He sniffled as he rubbed his stinging bottom.

"You... live here? All alone? For how long?" the man said, now worried about the strange boy.

"300 years!" He told the man, hugging him. "How about you?"

The man hugged the boy "Me? Geez, I'm barely 50." he said "So, you really are a ghost... aren't you lonely?"

He nodded his head snuggling close. “I haven’t set out of this mansion for 500 years!” He told him.

He petted his head "Well, that's just not good, a kid should not be alone" he said