suddenly exclaimed one of the twins, who had been looking out of the window to try and discover in what wing of the house the room was situated. The chameleon-like colour, also, of the stain excited a good deal of comment. Virginia is different from everyone else in the family, and Sir Simon recognizes this. Sir Simon schemes, but even as his costumes become increasingly gruesome, his antics do nothing to scare his house guests, and the Otis beat him every time. However, it is no matter now, for it is all over, and I don't think it was very nice of her brothers to starve me to death, though I did kill her.' His plan of action was this. The ghost, then, was naturally very anxious to show that he had not lost his influence over the Stiltons, with whom, indeed, he was distantly connected, his own first cousin having been married en secondes noces, the Sieur de Bulkeley, from whom, as every one knows, the Dukes of Cheshire are lineally descended. 'I have never told any one, Cecil,' said Virginia gravely. Wilde describes Mrs. Otis as "a very handsome middle-aged woman" who had been "a celebrated New York belle". With these words the United States Minister laid the bottle down on a marble table, and, closing his door, retired to rest. Virginia's ability to accept Sir Simon leads to her enlightenment. 'Oh, bother my hat! Then the Ghost spoke again, and his voice sounded like the sighing of the wind. As for my daughter, she is merely a child, and has as yet, I am glad to say, but little interest in such appurtenances of idle luxury. When they had finished, Mr. Otis, in spite of the entreaties of the little Duke, ordered them all to bed, saying that nothing more could be done that night, and that he would telegraph in the morning to Scotland Yard for some detectives to be sent down immediately. Would you like it?' It was generally assumed that the ghost had gone away, and, in fact, Mr. Otis wrote a letter to that effect to Lord Canterville, who, in reply, expressed his great pleasure at the news, and sent his best congratulations to the Minister's worthy wife.
Wishing to make an effective entrance, he flung it wide open, when a heavy jug of water fell right down on him, wetting him to the skin, and just missing his left shoulder by a couple of inches. He then retired to a comfortable lead coffin, and stayed there till evening.The next day the ghost was very weak and tired. in his ear. Strings were continually being stretched across the corridor, over which he tripped in the dark, and on one occasion, while dressed for the part of 'Black Isaac, or the Huntsman of Hogley Woods,' he met with a severe fall, through treading on a butter-slide, which the twins had constructed from the entrance of the Tapestry Chamber to the top of the oak staircase. She felt as if she was in a terrible dream. 'Please don't ask me, Cecil, I cannot tell you. 'I fear that the ghost exists,' said Lord Canterville, smiling, 'though it may have resisted the overtures of your enterprising impresarios. All rights reserved. A miller has very strong opinions on the subject in this witty tale narrated by a bird. 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.
However, by taking great care of himself, he recovered, and resolved to make a third attempt to frighten the United States Minister and his family. On reaching a small secret chamber in the left wing, he leaned up against a moonbeam to recover his breath, and began to try and realise his position. 'I knew Pinkerton would do it,' he exclaimed triumphantly, as he looked round at his admiring family; but no sooner had he said these words than a terrible flash of lightning lit up the sombre room, a fearful peal of thunder made them all start to their feet, and Mrs. Umney fainted. When Virginia touched it, it swung back on its heavy hinges, and they found themselves in a little low room, with a vaulted ceiling, and one tiny grated window. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Virginia's eyes grew dim with tears, and she hid her face in her hands. First you took all my reds, including the vermilion, and I couldn't do any more sunsets, then you took the emerald-green and the chrome-yellow, and finally I had nothing left but indigo and Chinese white, and could only do moonlight scenes, which are always depressing to look at, and not at all easy to paint. It was said to have turned Lord Raker's wig grey in a single night, and had certainly made three of Lady Canterville's French governesses give warning before their month was up. The strange noise still continued, and with it he heard distinctly the sound of footsteps. There the Duchess sat down on a fallen pillar, while her husband lay at her feet smoking a cigarette and looking up at her beautiful eyes. Full of clever repartee and heartfelt charm, The Canterville Ghost succeeds as an amusing ghost story laced with romance and redemption.