Many American ladies on leaving their native land adopt an appearance of chronic ill-health, under the impression that it is a form of European refinement, but Mrs. Tappan, of West 53rd Street, had been a celebrated New York belle, was now a very handsome, middle-aged woman, with fine eyes, and a superb profile. Only you must remember I warned you.’Ī few weeks after this, the purchase was completed, and at the close of the season the Minister and his family went down to Canterville Chase. Otis’s last observation, ‘and if you don’t mind a ghost in the house, it is all right.

‘You are certainly very natural in America,’ answered Lord Canterville, who did not quite understand Mr.

But there is no such thing, sir, as a ghost, and I guess the laws of Nature are not going to be suspended for the British aristocracy.’ ‘Well, so does the family doctor for that matter, Lord Canterville. It has been well known for three centuries, since 1584 in fact, and always makes its appearance before the death of any member of our family.’ ‘I fear that the ghost exists,’ said Lord Canterville, smiling, ‘though it may have resisted the overtures of your enterprising impresarios. I come from a modern country, where we have everything that money can buy and with all our spry young fellows painting the Old World red, and carrying off your best actresses and prima-donnas, I reckon that if there were such a thing as a ghost in Europe, we’d have it at home in a very short time in one of our public museums, or on the road as a show.’ ‘My Lord,’ answered the Minister, ‘I will take the furniture and the ghost at a valuation. After the unfortunate accident to the Duchess, none of our younger servants would stay with us, and Lady Canterville often got very little sleep at night, in consequence of the mysterious noises that came from the corridor and the library.’ Augustus Dampier, who is a Fellow of King’s College, Cambridge. Otis, that the ghost has been seen by several living members of my family, as well as by the rector of the parish, the Rev. ‘We have not cared to live in the place ourselves,’ said Lord Canterville, ‘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 as she was dressing for dinner, and I feel bound to tell you, Mr. Indeed, Lord Canterville himself, who was a man of the most punctilious honour, had felt it his duty to mention the fact to Mr.

Otis, the American Minister, bought Canterville Chase, every one told him he was doing a very foolish thing, as there was no doubt at all that the place was haunted.

The canterville