Кентервільський привид

           "Yes,death. Deathmustbesobeautiful. Tolieinthesoftbrownearth,withthegrasseswavingaboveone’shead,andlistentosilence. Tohavenoyesterday,andnoto-morrow. Toforgettime,toforgetlife,tobeatpeace. Youcanhelpme. Youcanopenformetheportalsofdeath’shouse,forloveisalwayswithyou,andloveisstrongerthandeathis." 

           Virginiatrembled,acoldshudderranthroughher,andforafewmomentstherewassilence. Shefeltasifshewasinaterribledream. 

           Thentheghostspokeagain,andhisvoicesoundedlikethesighingofthewind. 

           "Haveyoueverreadtheoldprophecyonthelibrarywindow?" 

           "Oh,often,"criedthelittlegirl,lookingup; "Iknowitquitewell. Itispaintedincuriousblackletters,andisdifficulttoread. Thereareonlysixlines: 

           "’Whenagoldengirlcanwin 

           Prayerfromoutthelipsofsin, 

           Whenthebarrenalmondbears, 

           Andalittlechildgivesawayitstears, 

           Thenshallallthehousebestill 

           AndpeacecometoCanterville.’ 

           ButIdon’tknowwhattheymean."