The Canterville Ghost

The ghost was sitting by the window, watching the autumn weather and the gold leaves from the trees flying through the air and dancing in the wind. His head was in his hand, and he looked tired, and very sad. Indeed, he looked very sad and beaten, and he looked a bit ill, as if he had not been caring for himself. At first Little Virginia thought that she should run away and lock herself in her room. But when she saw how the ghost looked, she felt very sorry for him. She decided to do something to make him feel better. She walked up to him very quietly, and he was so sad and thoughtful that he did not even notice that she was there until she spoke to him.

`I am so sorry for you,' Virginia said, `but my brothers are going back to Eton to-morrow, and then, if you don't do anything bad, no one will do anything to you.'

`It is rather silly to ask me to be good,' answered the ghost. He was very surprised that this pretty little girl had been brave enough to speak to him, ` I must make a noise with my chains, and make horrible sounds through keyholes, and walk about at night, if that is what you are talking about. That is why I am here.'