Кентервільський привид

           LordCantervillelistenedverygravelytotheworthyMinister’sspeech,pullinghisgreymoustachenowandthentohideaninvoluntarysmile, andwhenMr.Otishadended,heshookhimcordiallybythehand,andsaid: "Mydearsir,yourcharminglittledaughterrenderedmyunluckyancestor,SirSimon,averyimportantservice,andIandmyfamilyaremuchindebtedtoherforhermarvellouscourageandpluck. Thejewelsareclearlyhers,and,egad,IbelievethatifIwereheartlessenoughtotakethemfromher,thewickedoldfellowwouldbeoutofhisgraveinafortnight,leadingmethedevilofalife. Asfortheirbeingheirlooms,nothingisanheirloomthatisnotsomentionedinawillorlegaldocument,andtheexistenceofthesejewelshasbeenquiteunknown. IassureyouIhavenomoreclaimonthemthanyourbutler,andwhenMissVirginiagrowsup,Idaresayshewillbepleasedtohaveprettythingstowear. Besides,youforget,Mr.Otis,thatyoutookthefurnitureandtheghostatavaluation,andanythingthatbelongedtotheghostpassedatonceintoyourpossession, as,whateveractivitySirSimonmayhaveshowninthecorridoratnight,inpointoflawhewasreallydead,andyouacquiredhispropertybypurchase." 

           Mr.OtiswasagooddealdistressedatLordCanterville’srefusal,andbeggedhimtoreconsiderhisdecision,butthegood-naturedpeerwasquitefirm,andfinallyinducedtheMinistertoallowhisdaughtertoretainthepresenttheghosthadgivenher, andwhen,inthespringof1890,theyoungDuchessofCheshirewaspresentedattheQueen’sfirstdrawing-roomontheoccasionofhermarriage,herjewelsweretheuniversalthemeofadmiration. ForVirginiareceivedthecoronet,whichistherewardofallgoodlittleAmericangirls,andwasmarriedtoherboy-loverassoonashecameofage.