Conversational but Controlled
Take a look at one of Arthur's opening statements:
My spirits have for many years now been excessively affected by the ways of the weather, and I confess that, had it not been for the air of cheerfulness and bustle that prevailed in the rest of the house, I should have been quite cast down in gloom and lethargy, unable to enjoy the flavor of life as I should like and irritated by my own susceptibility. (1.4)
Arthur may be telling us a ghost story, and he may be telling us about a tragic event that changed his life, but that doesn't mean he's going to let go of his syntax and vocabulary. He's a man of many words, and the writing reflects his education and intelligence.
We're not saying it's not good. We're just saying that you should be prepared for pages and pages of paragraphs about the scenery.