The Canterville Ghost

After a time, however, the brave old Canterville spirit asserted itself, and he determined to go and speak to the other ghost as soon as it was daylight. Accordingly, just as the dawn was touching the hills with silver, he returned towards the spot where he had first laid eyes on the grisly phantom, feeling that, after all, two ghosts were better than one, and that, by the aid of his new friend, he might safely grapple with the twins.

On reaching the spot, however, a terrible sight met his gaze. Something had evidently happened to the spectre, for the light had entirely faded from its hollow eyes, the gleaming dagger had fallen from its hand, and it was leaning up against the wall in a strained and uncomfortable attitude. He rushed forward and seized it in his arms, when, to his horror, the head slipped off and rolled on the floor, the body assumed a recumbent posture, and he found himself clasping a white bed-sheet, with a sweeping-brush, a kitchen cleaver, and a hollow turnip lying at his feet! Unable to understand this curious transformation, he clutched the placard with feverish haste, and there, in the grey morning light, he read these fearful words:

YE OTIS GHOSTE. Ye Onlie True and Originale Spook. Beware of Ye Imitationes.
All others are Counterfeite.

Vocabulary:

Determine: Here this means 'decide'.
Lay eyes: See.
Grisly: Frightening.
Grapple: Fight with.
Spectre: Ghost.
Attitude: Here this means 'position'.
Recumbent: Lying on the ground.
Clasp: Hold.
Cleaver: A kind of heavy knife.
Turnip: A large white vegetable.
Transformation: Change.
Clutch: Hold on to.
Feverish: Desperate speed.
Ye: Old English for 'the'.
Spook: Ghost.
Counterfeit: Not real, imitation.