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about a quarter past two o'clock in the morning； and； as far as he
could ascertain； no one was stirring。 As he was strolling towards
the library； however； to see if there were any traces left of the
blood…stain； suddenly there leaped out on him from a dark corner
two figures； who waved their arms wildly above their heads； and
shrieked out 'BOO！' in his ear。
Seized with a panic； which； under the circumstances； was only
natural； he rushed for the staircase； but found Washington Otis
waiting for him there with the big garden…syringe； and being thus
hemmed in by his enemies on every side； and driven almost to bay；
he vanished into the great iron stove； which； fortunately for him；
was not lit； and had to make his way home through the flues and
chimneys； arriving at his own room in a terrible state of dirt；
disorder； and despair。
After this he was not seen again on any nocturnal expedition。 The
twins lay in wait for him on several occasions； and strewed the
passages with nutshells every night to the great annoyance of their
parents and the servants； but it was of no avail。 It was quite
evident that his feelings were so wounded that he would not appear。
Mr。 Otis consequently resumed his great work on the history of the
Democratic Party； on which he had been engaged for some years； Mrs。
Otis organised a wonderful clam…bake； which amazed the whole
county； the boys took to lacrosse； euchre； poker； and other
American national games； and Virginia rode about the lanes on her
pony； accompanied by the young Duke of Cheshire； who had come to
spend the last week of his holidays at Canterville Chase。 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。
The Otises； however； were deceived； for the ghost was still in the
house； and though now almost an invalid； was by no means ready to
let matters rest； particularly as he heard that among the guests
was the young Duke of Cheshire； whose grand…uncle； Lord Francis
Stilton； had once bet a hundred guineas with Colonel Carbury that
he would play dice with the Canterville ghost； and was found the
next morning lying on the floor of the card…room in such a helpless
paralytic state； that though he lived on to a great age； he was
never able to say anything again but 'Double Sixes。' The story was
well known at the time； though； of course； out of respect to the
feelings of the two noble families； every attempt was made to hush
it up； and a full account of all the circumstances connected with
it will be found in the third volume of Lord Tattle's RECOLLECTIONS
OF THE PRINCE REGENT AND HIS FRIENDS。 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 to the
Sieur de Bulkeley； from whom； as every one knows； the Dukes of
Cheshire are lineally descended。 Accordingly； he made arrangements
for appearing to Virginia's little lover in his celebrated
impersonation of 'The Vampire Monk； or； the Bloodless Benedictine；'
a performance so horrible that when old Lady Startup saw it； which
she did on one fatal New Year's Eve； in the year 1764； she went off
into the most piercing shrieks； which culminated in violent
apoplexy； and died in three days； after disinheriting the
Cantervilles； who were her nearest relations； and leaving all her
money to her London apothecary。 At the last moment； however； his
terror of the twins prevented his leaving his room； and the little
Duke slept in peace under the great feathered canopy in the Royal
Bedchamber； and dreamed of Virginia。
CHAPTER V
A FEW days after this； Virginia and her curly…haired cavalier went
out riding on Brockley meadows； where she tore her habit so badly
in getting through a hedge； that； on her return home； she made up
her mind to go up by the back staircase so as not to be seen。 As
she was running past the Tapestry Chamber； the door of which
happened to be open； she fancied she saw some one inside； and
thinking it was her mother's maid； who sometimes used to bring her
work there； looked in to ask her to mend her habit。 To her immense
surprise； however； it was the Canterville Ghost himself！ He was
sitting by the window； watching the ruined gold of the yellowing
trees fly through the air； and the red leaves dancing madly down
the long avenue。 His head was leaning on his hand； and his whole
attitude was one of extreme depression。 Indeed； so forlorn； and so
much out of repair did he look； that little Virginia； whose first
idea had been to run away and lock herself in her room； was filled
with pity； and determined to try and comfort him。 So light was her
footfall； and so deep his melancholy； that he was not aware of her
presence till she spoke to him。
'I am so sorry for you；' she said； 'but my brothers are going back
to Eton to…morrow； and then； if you behave yourself； no one will
annoy you。'
'It is absurd asking me to behave myself；' he answered； looking
round in astonishment at the pretty little girl who had ventured to
address him； 'quite absurd。 I must rattle my chains； and groan
through keyholes； and walk about at night； if that is what you
mean。 It is my only reason for existing。'
'It is no reason at all for existing； and you know you have been
very wicked。 Mrs。 Umney told us； the first day we arrived here；
that you had killed your wife。'
'Well； I quite admit it；' said the Ghost petulantly； 'but it was a
purely family matter； and concerned no one else。'
'It is very wrong to kill any one；' said Virginia； who at times had
a sweet Puritan gravity； caught from some old New England ancestor。
'Oh； I hate the cheap severity of abstract ethics！ My wife was
very plain； never had my ruffs properly starched； and knew nothing
about cookery。 Why； there was a buck I had shot in Hogley Woods； a
magnificent pricket； and do you know how she had it sent up to
table？ 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。'
'Starve you to death？ Oh； Mr。 Ghost； I mean Sir Simon； are you
hungry？ I have a sandwich in my case。 Would you like it？'
'No； thank you； I never eat anything now； but it is very kind of
you； all the same； and you are much nicer than the rest of your
horrid； rude； vulgar； dishonest family。'
'Stop！' cried Virginia； stamping her foot； 'it is you who are rude；
and horrid； and vulgar； and as for dishonesty； you know you stole
the paints out of my box to try and furbish up that ridiculous
blood…stain in the library。 First you took all my reds； including
the vermilion； and I couldn't do any more sunsets； then you took
th