1 Canterville Castle

The Canterville Ghost

Chapter 1 Canterville Castle Mr. Otis looked at the castle with delight. "I'll buy it!" he cried. "Excellent," replied his guide, Lord Canterville. "But perhaps I should warn you... Canterville Castle is haunted."

"My family had to move out many years ago, after my great- aunt had a dreadful experience." A skeleton! "She never recovered."

Mr. Otis wasn't worried. He didn't believe in ghosts. I'm sure my family and I will be very happy here. Well, don't say I didn't warn you.

A week later, Mr. and Mrs. Otis arrived with their children, Washington, Virginia and the twins. They were greeted by an old woman, who was neatly dressed in a white apron and cap. Welcome to Canterville Castle. "I'm Mrs. Umney, the housekeeper," she said. "Come inside. There's tea for you in the library."

"Cake!" shouted the twins, diving in. Virginia wasn't interested in the food. She had spotted a poem in the library window. If a child will enter the secret room And stay till the dead of the night Then at last Sir Simon can sleep in his tomb And at Canterville all will be right. What does it mean? Before she could show her father, Mrs. Otis cried out. "Oh dear! I'm afraid we've spilled something on the carpet, Mrs. Umney."