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THE CANTERVILLE GHOST
CHAPTER I
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。'
'My Lord；' answered the Minister； 'I will take the furniture and
the ghost at a valuation。 I come from a modern country； where we
have everything that money can buy； and with all our spry young
fellows painting the Old World red； and carrying off your best
actresses and prima…donnas； I reckon that if there were such a
thing as a ghost in Europe； we'd have it at home in a very short
time in one of our public museums； or on the road as a show。'
'I fear that the ghost exists；' said Lord Canterville； smiling；
'though it may have resisted the overtures of your enterprising
impresarios。 It has been well known for three centuries； since
1584 in fact； and always makes its appearance before the death of
any member of our family。'
'Well； so does the family doctor for that matter； Lord Canterville。
But there is no such thing； sir； as a ghost； and I guess the laws
of Nature are not going to be suspended for the British
aristocracy。'
'You are certainly very natural in America；' answered Lord
Canterville； who did not quite understand Mr。 Otis's last
observation； 'and if you don't mind a ghost in the house； it is all
right。 Only you must remember I warned you。'
A few weeks after this； the purchase was completed； and at the
close of the season the Minister and his family went down to
Canterville Chase。 Mrs。 Otis； who； as Miss Lucretia R。 Tappan； of
West 53rd Street； had been a celebrated New York belle； was now a
very handsome； middle…aged woman； with fine eyes； and a superb
profile。 Many American ladies on leaving their native land adopt
an appearance of chronic ill…health； under the impression that it
is a form of European refinement； but Mrs。 Otis had never fallen
into this error。 She had a magnificent constitution； and a really
wonderful amount of animal spirits。 Indeed； in many respects； she
was quite English； and was an excellent example of the fact that we
have really everything in common with America nowadays； except； of
course； language。 Her eldest son； christened Washington by his
parents in a moment of patriotism； which he never ceased to regret；
was a fair…haired； rather good…looking young man； who had qualified
himself for American diplomacy by leading the German at the Newport
Casino for three successive seasons； and even in London was well
known as an excellent dancer。 Gardenias and the peerage were his
only weaknesses。 Otherwise he was extremely sensible。 Miss
Virginia E。 Otis was a little girl of fifteen； lithe and lovely as
a fawn； and with a fine freedom in her large blue eyes。 She was a
wonderful amazon； and had once raced old Lord Bilton on her pony
twice round the park； winning by a length and a half； just in front
of the Achilles statue； to the huge delight of the young Duke of
Cheshire； who proposed for her on the spot； and was sent back to
Eton that very night by his guardians； in floods of tears。 After
Virginia came the twins； who were usually called 'The Stars and
Stripes；' as they were always getting swished。 They were
delightful boys； and with the exception of the worthy Minister the
only true republicans of the family。
As Canterville Chase is seven miles from Ascot； the nearest railway
station； Mr。 Otis had telegraphed for a waggonette to meet them；
and they started on their drive in high spirits。 It was a lovely
July evening； and the air was delicate with the scent of the pine…
woods。 Now and then they heard a wood pigeon brooding over its own
sweet voice； or saw； deep in the rustling fern； the burnished
breast of the pheasant。 Little squirrels peered at them from the
beech…trees as they went by； and the rabbits scudded away through
the brushwood and over the mossy knolls； with their white tails in
the air。 As they entered the avenue of Canterville Chase； however；
the sky became suddenly overcast with clouds； a curious stillness
seemed to hold the atmosphere； a great flight of rooks passed
silently over their heads； and； before they reached the house； some
big drops of rain had fallen。
Standing on the steps to receive them was an old woman； neatly
dressed in black silk； with a white cap and apron。 This was Mrs。
Umney； the housekeeper； whom Mrs。 Otis； at Lady Canterville's
earnest request； had consented to keep on in her former position。
She made them each a low curtsey as they alighted； and said in a
quaint； old…fashioned manner； 'I bid you welcome to Canterville
Chase。' Following her； they passed through the fine Tudor hall
into the library； a long； low room； panelled in black oak； at the
end of which was a large stained…glass window。 Here they found tea
laid out for them； and； after taking off their wraps； they sat down
and began to look round； while Mrs。 Umney waited on them。
Suddenly Mrs。 Otis caught sight of a dull red stain on the floor
just by the fireplace and； quite unconscious of what it really
signified； said to Mrs。 Umney； 'I am afraid something has been
spilt there。'
'Yes； madam；' replied the old housekeeper in a low voice； 'blood
has been spilt on that spot。'
'How horrid；' cried Mrs。 Otis； 'I don't at all care for blood…
stains in a sitting…room。 It must be removed at once。'
The old woman smiled； and answered in the same low； mysterious
voice； 'It is the blood of Lady Eleanore de Canterville； who was
murdered on that very spot by her own husband； Sir Simon de
Canterville； in 1575。 Sir Simon survived her nine years； and
disappeared suddenly under very mysterious circumstances。 His body
has never been discovered； but his guilty spirit still haunts the
Chase。 The blood…stain has been much admired by tourists and
others； and cannot be removed。'
'That is all nonsense；' cried Washington Otis； 'Pinkerton's
Champion Stain Remover and Paragon Detergent will clean it