John W. Luce and Company
Boston and London
1906
MISS VIRGINIA E. OTIS
“Had once raced old lord
Bilton on her pony”
“Blood has been spilled
on that spot”
“I really must insist on
your oiling those chains”
“The twins ... At once
discharged two pellets on him”
“Its head was bald and
burnished”
“He met with A severe fall”
“A heavy jug of water fell
right down on him”
“Making satirical remarks on
the photographs”
“Suddenly there leaped out
two figures”
“‘Poor, poor ghost,’
she murmured; ’have you no
place where you can
sleep?’”
“The ghost glided on more
swiftly”
“He heard somebody galloping
after him”
“Out on the landing stepped
Virginia”
“Chained to it was A gaunt
skeleton”
“By the side of the
hearse and the coaches walked
the servants with
lighted torches”
“The moon came out from
behind A cloud”
When Mr. Hiram B. Otis, the American Minister, bought
Canterville Chase, every one told him he was doing
a very foolish thing, as there was no doubt at all
that the place was haunted. Indeed, Lord Canterville
himself, who was a man of the most punctilious honour,
had felt it his duty to mention the fact to Mr. Otis
when they came to discuss terms.
“We have not cared to live in the place ourselves,”
said Lord Canterville, “since my grandaunt,
the Dowager Duchess of Bolton, was frightened into
a fit, from which she never really recovered, by two
skeleton hands being placed on her shoulders as she
was dressing for dinner, and I feel bound to tell
you, Mr. Otis, that the ghost has been seen by several
living members of my family, as well as by the rector
of the parish, the Rev. Augustus Dampier, who is a
Fellow of King’s College, Cambridge. After
the unfortunate accident to the Duchess, none of our
younger servants would stay with us, and Lady Canterville
often got very little sleep at night, in consequence
of the mysterious noises that came from the corridor
and the library.”
