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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。 I never told on you； though I was very much annoyed； and
it was most ridiculous； the whole thing； for who ever heard of
emerald…green blood？'
'Well； really；' said the Ghost； rather meekly； 'what was I to do？
It is a very difficult thing to get real blood nowadays； and； as
your brother began it all with his Paragon Detergent； I certainly
saw no reason why I should not have your paints。 As for colour；
that is always a matter of taste： the Cantervilles have blue
blood； for instance； the very bluest in England； but I know you
Americans don't care for things of this kind。'
'You know nothing about it； and the best thing you can do is to
emigrate and improve your mind。 My father will be only too happy
to give you a free passage； and though there is a heavy duty on
spirits of every kind； there will be no difficulty about the Custom
House； as the officers are all Democrats。 Once in New York； you
are sure to be a great success。 I know lots of people there who
would give a hundred thousand dollars to have a grandfather； and
much more than that to have a family Ghost。'
'I don't think I should like America。'
'I suppose because we have no ruins and no curiosities；' said
Virginia satirically。
'No ruins！ no curiosities！' answered the Ghost； 'you have your navy
and your manners。'
'Good evening； I will go and ask papa to get the twins an extra
week's holiday。'
'Please don't go； Miss Virginia；' he cried； 'I am so lonely and so
unhappy； and I really don't know what to do。 I want to go to sleep
and I cannot。'
'That's quite absurd！ You have merely to go to bed and blow out
the candle。 It is very difficult sometimes to keep awake；
especially at church； but there is no difficulty at all about
sleeping。 Why； even babies know how to do that； and they are not
very clever。'
'I have not slept for three hundred years；' he said sadly； and
Virginia's beautiful blue eyes opened in wonder； 'for three hundred
years I have not slept； and I am so tired。'
Virginia grew quite grave； and her little lips trembled like rose…
leaves。 She came towards him； and kneeling down at his side；
looked up into his old withered face。
'Poor； poor Ghost；' she murmured； 'have you no place where you can
sleep？'
'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；' and； in a moment； the wainscoting had closed behind them；
and the Tapestry Chamber was empty。
CHAPTER VI
ABOUT ten minutes later； the bell rang for tea； and； as Virginia
did not come down； Mrs。 Otis sent up one of the footmen to tell
her。 After a little time he returned and said that he could not
find Miss Virginia anywhere。 As she was in the habit of going out
to the garden every evening to get flowers for the dinner…table；
Mrs。 Otis was not at all alarmed at first； but when six o'clock
struck； and Virginia did not appear； she became really agitated；
and sent the boys out to look for her； while she herself and Mr。
Otis searched every room in the house。 At half…past six the boys
came back and said that they could find no trace of their sister
anywhere。 They were all now in the greatest state of excitement；
and did not know what to do； when Mr。 Otis suddenly remembered
that； some few days before； he had given a band