Кентервільський привид
Chapter 6
"Goodheavens!child,wherehaveyoubeen? "saidMr.Otis,ratherangrily,thinkingthatshehadbeenplayingsomefoolishtrickonthem. "CecilandIhavebeenridingalloverthecountrylookingforyou,andyourmotherhasbeenfrightenedtodeath. Youmustneverplaythesepracticaljokesanymore."
"ExceptontheGhost!exceptontheGhost!"shriekedthetwins,astheycaperedabout.
"Myowndarling,thankGodyouarefound; youmustneverleavemysideagain,"murmuredMrs.Otis,asshekissedthetremblingchild,andsmoothedthetangledgoldofherhair.
"Papa,"saidVirginia,quietly,"IhavebeenwiththeGhost. Heisdead,andyoumustcomeandseehim. Hehadbeenverywicked,buthewasreallysorryforallthathehaddone,andhegavemethisboxofbeautifuljewelsbeforehedied."
Thewholefamilygazedatherinmuteamazement,butshewasquitegraveandserious; and,turninground,sheledthemthroughtheopeninginthewainscotingdownanarrowsecretcorridor,Washingtonfollowingwithalightedcandle,whichhehadcaughtupfromthetable. Finally,theycametoagreatoakdoor,studdedwithrustynails. WhenVirginiatouchedit,itswungbackonitsheavyhinges,andtheyfoundthemselvesinalittlelowroom,withavaultedceiling,andonetinygratedwindow. Imbeddedinthewallwasahugeironring,andchainedtoitwasagauntskeleton,thatwasstretchedoutatfulllengthonthestonefloor, andseemedtobetryingtograspwithitslongfleshlessfingersanoldfashionedtrencherandewer,thatwereplacedjustoutofitsreach.
