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was covered inside with green mould。 There was nothing on the
trencher but a pile of dust。 Virginia knelt down beside the
skeleton； and； folding her little hands together； began to pray
silently； while the rest of the party looked on in wonder at the
terrible tragedy whose secret was now disclosed to them。
'Hallo！' 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。 'Hallo！ the old withered almond…tree has
blossomed。 I can see the flowers quite plainly in the moonlight。'
'God has forgiven him；' said Virginia gravely； as she rose to her
feet； and a beautiful light seemed to illumine her face。
'What an angel you are！' cried the young Duke； and he put his arm
round her neck and kissed her。
CHAPTER VII
FOUR days after these curious incidents a funeral started from
Canterville Chase at about eleven o'clock at night。 The hearse was
drawn by eight black horses； each of which carried on its head a
great tuft of nodding ostrich…plumes； and the leaden coffin was
covered by a rich purple pall； on which was embroidered in gold the
Canterville coat…of…arms。 By the side of the hearse and the
coaches walked the servants with lighted torches； and the whole
procession was wonderfully impressive。 Lord Canterville was the
chief mourner； having come up specially from Wales to attend the
funeral； and sat in the first carriage along with little Virginia。
Then came the United States Minister and his wife； then Washington
and the three boys； and in the last carriage was Mrs。 Umney。 It
was generally felt that； as she had been frightened by the ghost
for more than fifty years of her life； she had a right to see the
last of him。 A deep grave had been dug in the corner of the
churchyard； just under the old yew…tree； and the service was read
in the most impressive manner by the Rev。 Augustus Dampier。 When
the ceremony was over； the servants； according to an old custom
observed in the Canterville family； extinguished their torches；
and； as the coffin was being lowered into the grave； Virginia
stepped forward and laid on it a large cross made of white and pink
almond…blossoms。 As she did so； the moon came out from behind a
cloud； and flooded with its silent silver the little churchyard；
and from a distant copse a nightingale began to sing。 She thought
of the ghost's description of the Garden of Death； her eyes became
dim with tears； and she hardly spoke a word during the drive home。
The next morning； before Lord Canterville went up to town； Mr。 Otis
had an interview with him on the subject of the jewels the ghost
had given to Virginia。 They were perfectly magnificent； especially
a certain ruby necklace with old Venetian setting； which was really
a superb specimen of sixteenth…century work； and their value was so
great that Mr。 Otis felt considerable scruples about allowing his
daughter to accept them。
'My lord；' he said； 'I know that in this country mortmain is held
to apply to trinkets as well as to land； and it is quite clear to
me that these jewels are； or should be； heirlooms in your family。
I must beg you； accordingly； to take them to London with you； and
to regard them simply as a portion of your property which has been
restored to you under certain strange conditions。 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。 I am
also informed by Mrs。 Otis； who； I may say； is no mean authority
upon Art … having had the privilege of spending several winters in
Boston when she was a girl … that these gems are of great monetary
worth； and if offered for sale would fetch a tall price。 Under
these circumstances； Lord Canterville； I feel sure that you will
recognise how impossible it would be for me to allow them to remain
in the possession of any member of my family； and； indeed； all such
vain gauds and toys； however suitable or necessary to the dignity
of the British aristocracy； would be completely out of place among
those who have been brought up on the severe； and I believe
immortal； principles of republican simplicity。 Perhaps I should
mention that Virginia is very anxious that you should allow her to
retain the box as a memento of your unfortunate but misguided
ancestor。 As it is extremely old； and consequently a good deal out
of repair； you may perhaps think fit to comply with her request。
For my own part； I confess I am a good deal surprised to find a
child of mine expressing sympathy with mediaevalism in any form；
and can only account for it by the fact that Virginia was born in
one of your London suburbs shortly after Mrs。 Otis had returned
from a trip to Athens。'
Lord Canterville listened very gravely to the worthy Minister's
speech； pulling his grey moustache now and then to hide an
involuntary smile； and when Mr。 Otis had ended； he shook him
cordially by the hand； and said； 'My dear sir； your charming little
daughter rendered my unlucky ancestor； Sir Simon； a very important
service； and I and my family are much indebted to her for her
marvellous courage and pluck。 The jewels are clearly hers； and；
egad； I believe that if I were heartless enough to take them from
her； the wicked old fellow would be out of his grave in a
fortnight； leading me the devil of a life。 As for their being
heirlooms； nothing is an heirloom that is not so mentioned in a
will or legal document； and the existence of these jewels has been
quite unknown。 I assure you I have no more claim on them than your
butler； and when Miss Virginia grows up I daresay she will be
pleased to have pretty things to wear。 Besides； you forget； Mr。
Otis； that you took the furniture and the ghost at a valuation； and
anything that belonged to the ghost passed at once into your
possession； as； whatever activity Sir Simon may have shown in the
corridor at night； in point of law he was really dead； and you
acquired his property by purchase。'
Mr。 Otis was a good deal distressed at Lord Canterville's refusal；
and begged him to reconsider his decision； but the good…natured
peer was quite firm； and finally induced the Minister to allow his
daughter to retain the present the ghost had given her； and when；
in the spring of 1890； the young Duchess of Cheshire was presented
at the Queen's first drawing…room on the occasion of her marriage；
her jewels were the universal theme of admiration。 For Virginia
received the coronet； which is the reward of all good little
American girls； and was married to her boy…lover as soon as he came
of age。 They were both so charming； and they loved each other so
much； that every one was delighted at the match； except the old
Marchioness of Dumbleton； who had tried to catch the Duke for one
of her seven unmarried daughters； and had given no less than three
expensive dinner…parties for that purpose； and； strange to say；