The canterville ghost

chapter-1

Canterville Chase was a huge villa . It was owned by lord canterville .An American minister, Mr Hiram B. Otis bought it . When he bought this place, everyone told him that he was doing a foolish thing because the house was a haunted place. Lord canterville said, "We have not cared to live in the place ourselves , 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 aa she was dressing for dinner . It is my duty to tell you , Mrs Otis, that the ghost has been seen by several living members of my family . It has also been seen by the priest of the church, Rev. Augustus Damper, who is a fellow of King's college , Cambridge .I wish to add that lady canterville used to get very little sleep at night because of mysterious noises that came from the corridor and library .

But the minister was adamant. "My lord" , the minister said,"I will take both the furniture and the ghost . I come from a modern country where we buy everything with money." But Lord canterville said , " I fear that the ghost exists."He further told him that since 1584 it always made its appearance before the death of any member of his family .

"Lord canterville ,"  replied the minister ," But there is no such thing, sir , as ghost, and I guess that the laws of nature are not going to be suspended for the British aristocracy".
Lord canterville said, " If you don't mind a ghost in the house , it is all right . only you must remember I warned you ."

A few weeks later, the house was purchased by Mr Otis , the American minister ..At the close of the season, the  minister and his family went down to canterville chase . Mrs Otis , as miss Lucretia R. Tappan , had been a celebrated New York belle . Now she was a very beautiful , middle-aged woman , with fine eyes and excellent face. She had a magnificent constitution and was lively .
Her eldest son was named Washington by his parents in a moment of patriotism. He was a fair-coloured, rather good-looking young man who had qualified himself for American diplomacy. In London ,he was known as an excellent dancer . In short, he was an extremely sensible person .

Mrs Otis had a daughter named Virginia . She was a little girl of 15 . she was a lovely girl With large blue eyes . she had once raced old Lord Bilton on her pony twice round the park .
Canterville chase was seven miles from  Ascot , the nearest railway station . so in July evening , the family drove to the new house .
On the way they heard wood-pigeon brooding over its own sweet voice . little squirrels looked at them. As the entered the avenue of canterville chase , the sky became overcasts with clouds and soon big drops of rain began to fall .

They were received by an old women who was dressed in black silk with a white cap and apron . she was Mrs.Umney , the housekeeper whom Mrs Otis retained her in her present job.
Suddenly Mrs Otis caught sight of a dull red stain on the floor near the fire place and told Mrs Umney," I am afraid something has been split there."
"Yes, madam ," replied Mrs Umney ," blood has been split on that spot " .
"How horrid! " cried Mrs Otis ," It must be removed at once ".

" What  a monstrous climate ! " said the American minister .
"My dear Hiram ," cried Mrs Otis ," what can we do with a women who faints ?"
Mrs Otis and minister  warmly assured the old housekeeper that they were not afraid of ghosts and then the old housekeeper invoked the blessings of God on her new master and mistress and went to her own room ...