Virginia went out to ride on Brockley meadows,
accompanied by the young Duke of Cheshire who wanted
to spend the last week of his holidays at Canterville Chase.
While getting through a hedge, she ruined her dress so
badly that she had to return home. She didn't want to be
seen by anyone, so she went up by the back staircase.
As she was running past the Tapestry Chamber, she saw the
door open and someone inside. She had the impression
that it was her mother's servant, who would sometimes
bring her work there, so she asked her to sew her dress.
She was so surprised to see the Canterville Ghost himself
instead! He was looking through the window, lost in his own
thoughts. His head was leaning on his hand, and his attitude
was one of great sadness. Little Virginia, who was scared at first and wanted to run away and
lock herself in her room, felt sorry for him and decided to stay. Maybe it was a good idea to
comfort him after all.
The Ghost was indeed so deep in his melancholy that he did not notice
her presence there until she spoke to him.
I'm so sorry for you. My brothers are leaving tomorrow, so maybe if you
20 behave yourself, no one will annoy you,' she said.
'You know it's absurd to ask me something like this, he answered, quite
surprised to see and hear the young girl talking to him. 'I must walk
around at night, if that's what you mean.
It's my only reason for existing!
5 'That's not true! You also know that your
behaviour was rude!
[...]
'Please don't go, Miss Virginia, he cried;
'I'm so lonely, so unhappy and I don't
know what to do. I haven't slept for three
hundred years. I want to sleep and I can't!
Virginia approached him, kneeled down
and looked at his old sad face.
'Oh, poor Ghostshe sighed.'Don't you
have a place where you can sleep
in peace?'


Tradus in romana, va rog