The Canterville Ghost

After Mr Otis had ridden a few miles he heard the sound of a horse behind him. He looked around and saw the little duke riding up to him. His face was very red and he had no hat. `I'm awfully sorry, Mr. Otis,' the boy told him, `but I can't eat any dinner while Virginia is lost. Please, don't be angry with me. I wanted to promise to marry her last year. If you had let me do that there would never have been all this trouble. You won't send me back to Centerville Chase, will you? I can't go! I won't go!'

Mr Otis could not help smiling at the young man, because he could see that the young duke really loved Virginia. He put out his hand and patted the duke on the shoulders. He said, `Well, if you won't go back to the Chase, I suppose you must come with me. But I must get you another hat at Ascot.'

`Oh, I don't care about my hat! I want Virginia!' said the little duke, and they rode together to the railway station. At the station Mr. Otis asked the station-master if he had seen any one who looked like Virginia. The station master asked everyone at the station, but no-one had seen her. The station-master promised Mr Otis that he would tell everyone to look for her. Next, Mr Otis bought a hat for the little duke. He was just in time because the shop was about to close for the evening. After that, Mr. Otis and the duke rode off to Bexley, a village which was four miles away. Mr Otis knew that there were often gypsies staying on the big open field next to the village.