The Canterville Ghost

So the ghost gave his most horrible laugh, till the old roof echoed from the terrible sound. As soon as the frightening noise died away, a door opened, and Mrs. Otis came through wearing a light blue dressing-gown.

`You sound as if you are really unwell,' she said. 'I have brought you a bottle of Dr. Dobell's medicine for you. If you have indigestion, this will fix it.'

The ghost glared at her furiously. Now he started to prepare to turn himself into a large black dog. He was famous for doing this. The family doctor of the Cantervilles thought that one Canterville, the Hon. Thomas Horton, had lost his wits when he saw it. Then he heard approaching footsteps, and this made him give up his evil idea. Instead he decided to become faintly phosphorescent, and he vanished with a deep groan, just as the twins came up to him.

On reaching his room he completely broke down, and became extremely upset. The bad manners of the twins, and the materialism of Mrs. Otis were naturally extremely annoying, but what upset him most was that he hadn't been able to wear the suit of armour.

Vocabulary:

Dressing-gown: Something you wear over your pyjamas when you are out of bed.
Unwell: Sick.
Indigestion: when the food you have eaten makes you uncomfortable.
Remedy: A way to make things better.
Glare: to look at very angrily.
Hon.: Abbreviation for 'Honourable'; a title of rank.
Wits: The ability to think logically.
Phosphorescent: Having a soft, glowing silver light.
Groan: A sound of anger and upset
Break down: To have an emotional collapse.
Materialism: The opposite of spiritual.