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soul； but the Otis family slept unconscious of their doom； and high
above the rain and storm he could hear the steady snoring of the
Minister for the United States。 He stepped stealthily out of the
wainscoting； with an evil smile on his cruel； wrinkled mouth； and
the moon hid her face in a cloud as he stole past the great oriel
window； where his own arms and those of his murdered wife were
blazoned in azure and gold。 On and on he glided； like an evil
shadow； the very darkness seeming to loathe him as he passed。 Once
he thought he heard something call； and stopped； but it was only the
baying of a dog from the Red Farm； and he went on； muttering strange
sixteenth…century curses； and ever and anon brandishing the rusty
dagger in the midnight air。 Finally he reached the corner of the
passage that led to luckless Washington's room。 For a moment he
paused there； the wind blowing his long grey locks about his head；
and twisting into grotesque and fantastic folds the nameless horror
of the dead man's shroud。 Then the clock struck the quarter； and he
felt the time was come。 He chuckled to himself； and turned the
corner； but no sooner had he done so； than； with a piteous wail of
terror； he fell back； and hid his blanched face in his long； bony
hands。 Right in front of him was standing a horrible spectre；
motionless as a carven image； and monstrous as a madman's dream！
Its head was bald and burnished； its face round； and fat； and white；
and hideous laughter seemed to have writhed its features into an
eternal grin。 From the eyes streamed rays of scarlet light； the
mouth was a wide well of fire； and a hideous garment； like to his
own； swathed with its silent snows the Titan form。 On its breast
was a placard with strange writing in antique characters； some
scroll of shame it seemed； some record of wild sins； some awful
calendar of crime； and； with its right hand； it bore aloft a
falchion of gleaming steel。
Never having seen a ghost before； he naturally was terribly
frightened； and； after a second hasty glance at the awful phantom；
he fled back to his room； tripping up in his long winding…sheet as
he sped down the corridor； and finally dropping the rusty dagger
into the Minister's jack…boots； where it was found in the morning by
the butler。 Once in the privacy of his own apartment； he flung
himself down on a small pallet…bed； and hid his face under the
clothes。 After a time； however； the brave old Canterville spirit
asserted itself； and he determined to go and speak to the other
ghost as soon as it was daylight。 Accordingly； just as the dawn was
touching the hills with silver； he returned towards the spot where
he had first laid eyes on the grisly phantom； feeling that； after
all； two ghosts were better than one； and that； by the aid of his
new friend； he might safely grapple with the twins。 On reaching the
spot； however； a terrible sight met his gaze。 Something had
evidently happened to the spectre； for the light had entirely faded
from its hollow eyes； the gleaming falchion had fallen from its
hand； and it was leaning up against the wall in a strained and
uncomfortable attitude。 He rushed forward and seized it in his
arms； when； to his horror； the head slipped off and rolled on the
floor； the body assumed a recumbent posture； and he found himself
clasping a white dimity bed…curtain； with a sweeping…brush； a
kitchen cleaver； and a hollow turnip lying at his feet！The
Canterville Ghost
THE GARDEN OF DEATH
'Far away beyond the pine…woods；' he answered； in a low dreamy
voice； 'there is a little garden。 There the grass grows long and
deep； there are the great white stars of the hemlock flower； there
the nightingale sings all night long。 All night long he sings； and
the cold； crystal moon looks down； and the yew…tree spreads out its
giant arms over the sleepers。'
Virginia's eyes grew dim with tears； and she hid her face in her
hands。
'You mean the Garden of Death；' she whispered。
'Yes； Death。 Death must be so beautiful。 To lie in the soft brown
earth； with the grasses waving above one's head； and listen to
silence。 To have no yesterday； and no to…morrow。 To forget time；
to forgive life； to be at peace。 You can help me。 You can open for
me the portals of Death's house； for Love is always with you； and
Love is stronger than Death is。'
Virginia trembled； a cold shudder ran through her； and for a few
moments there was silence。 She felt as if she was in a terrible
dream。
Then the Ghost spoke again； and his voice sounded like the sighing
of the wind。
'Have you ever read the old prophecy on the library window？'
'Oh； often；' cried the little girl； looking up； 'I know it quite
well。 It is painted in curious black letters； and it is difficult
to read。 There are only six lines：
When a golden girl can win
Prayer from out the lips of sin；
When the barren almond bears；
And a little child gives away its tears；
Then shall all the house be still
And peace come to Canterville。
But I don't know what they mean。'
'They mean；' he said sadly； 'that you must weep for me for my sins；
because I have no tears； and pray with me for my soul； because I
have no faith； and then； if you have always been sweet； and good；
and gentle； the Angel of Death will have mercy on me。 You will see
fearful shapes in darkness； and wicked voices will whisper in your
ear； but they will not harm you； for against the purity of a little
child the powers of Hell cannot prevail。'
Virginia made no answer； and the Ghost wrung his hands in wild
despair as he looked down at her bowed golden head。 Suddenly she
stood up； very pale； and with a strange light in her eyes。 'I am
not afraid；' she said firmly； 'and I will ask the Angel to have
mercy on you。'
He rose from his seat with a faint cry of joy； and taking her hand
bent over it with old…fashioned grace and kissed it。 His fingers
were as cold as ice； and his lips burned like fire； but Virginia did
not falter； as he led her across the dusky room。 On the faded green
tapestry were broidered little huntsmen。 They blew their tasselled
horns and with their tiny hands waved to her to go back。 'Go back！
little Virginia；' they cried； 'go back！' but the Ghost clutched her
hand more tightly； and she shut her eyes against them。 Horrible
animals with lizard tails； and goggle eyes； blinked at her from the
carven chimney…piece； and murmured 'Beware！ little Virginia； beware！
we may never see you again；' but the Ghost glided on more swiftly；
and Virginia did not listen。 When they reached the end of the room
he stopped； and muttered some words she could not understand。 She
opened her eyes； and saw the wall slowly fading away like a mist；
and a great black cavern in front of her。 A bitter cold wind swept
round them； and she felt something pulling at her dress。 'Quick；
quick；' cried the Ghost； 'or it will be too late；'