style="font-size:15px;"> “You mean the Garden of Death,” she whispered.
“Yes, death. Death must be so beautiful. To lie in the soft brown earth, with the grasses waving above one’s head, and listen to silence. To have no yesterday, and no to-morrow. To forget time, to forget life, to be at peace. You can help me. You can open for me the portals of death’s house, for love is always with you, and love is stronger than death is.”
Virginia trembled, a cold shudder ran through her, and for a few moments there was silence. She felt as if she was in a terrible dream. Then the ghost spoke again, and his voice sounded like the sighing of the wind.
“Have you ever read the old prophecy on the library window?”
“Oh, often,” cried the little girl, looking up; “I know it quite well.
It is painted in curious black letters, and is difficult to read. There are only six lines:
“‘When a golden girl can win
Prayer from out the lips of sin,
When the barren almond bears,
And a little child gives away its tears,
Then shall all the house be still
And peace come to Canterville.’
“But I don’t know what they mean.”
“They mean,” he said, sadly, “that you must weep with me for my sins,[99] because I have no tears, and pray with me for my soul, because I have no faith, and then, if you have always been sweet, and good, and gentle, the angel of death will have mercy on me.[100] You will see fearful shapes in darkness, and wicked voices will whisper in your ear, but they will not harm you, for against the purity of a little child the powers of Hell cannot prevail.”
Virginia made no answer, and the ghost wrung his hands in wild despair[101] as he looked down at her bowed golden head. Suddenly she stood up, very pale, and with a strange light in her eyes. “I am not afraid,” she said firmly, “and I will ask the angel to have mercy on you.”
He rose from his seat with a faint cry of joy, and taking her hand bent over it with old-fashioned grace[102] and kissed it. His fingers were as cold as ice, and his lips burned like fire, but Virginia did not falter, as he led her across the dusky room. On the faded green tapestry were broidered little huntsmen. They blew their horns[103] and with their tiny hands waved to her to go back. “Go back! little Virginia,” they cried, “go back!” but the ghost clutched her hand more tightly, and she shut her eyes against them. Horrible animals with lizard tails and goggle eyes blinked at her from the carven chimneypiece, and murmured, “Beware![104] little Virginia, beware! we may never see you again,” but the Ghost glided on more swiftly, and Virginia did not listen. When they reached the end of the room he stopped, and muttered some words she could not understand. She opened her eyes, and saw the wall slowly fading away like a mist, and a great black cavern in front of her. A bitter cold wind swept round them,[105] and she felt something pulling at her dress. “Quick, quick,” cried the Ghost, “or it will be too late,” and in a moment the wainscoting had closed behind them, and the Tapestry Chamber was empty.
Exercises
1. Answer the questions:
1. What happened to Virginia when she was riding on Brockley meadows?
2. Who was sitting by the window in the Tapestry Chamber?
3. What was the ghost doing?
4. Why was Virginia filled with pity?
5. How did Sir Simon die?
6. Why did the ghost steal Virginia’s paints?
7. What did the ghost tell Virginia about the garden of death?
8. How did the ghost explain the prophecy on the library window?
9. Did Virginia agree to help the ghost?
10. What did little huntsmen on the tapestry say to Virginia?
2. True or false?
1. As Virginia was running past the Tapestry Chamber, the door of which happened to be open, she saw her father sitting by the window.
2. Little Virginia determined to comfort the ghost because he looked lonely and depressed.
3. The ghost told Virginia that he was very lonely and unhappy.
4. Virginia asked the ghost to tell her everything about his wife.
5. The ghost explained Virginia why he had taken her paints.
6. Sir Simon’s wife was a beautiful lady and knew everything about cookery.
7. The ghost didn’t want to tell Virginia anything about death.
8. The ghost explained Virginia the meaning of the prophecy on the library window.
9. On the faded green tapestry were broidered little fairies.
10. When they reached the end of the room the ghost stopped, and muttered some words she could not understand.
3. Find in the text the English equivalents to the following words and expressions:
кудрявый кавалер, гобелен, к ее великому изумлению, утешить, в изумлении, стряпня, смиренно, достопримечательности, затушить, морщинистый, в отчаянии, смилостивиться, темный, выцветший, вышитый, впадина.
4. Write questions to the following answers.
1. Virginia tore her habit while she was riding with her cavalier.
2. As she was running past the Tapestry Chamber, the door of which happened to be open, she saw the Canterville ghost.
3. Virginia’s first idea was to run away and lock herself in her room.
4. The ghost looked lonely and depressed.
5. She told she was sorry for him.
6. Sir Simon’s wife was plain and knew nothing about cookery.
7. They starved him to death.
8. On the faded green tapestry were broidered little huntsmen.
9. They blew their horns and with their
weep with me for my sins – оплакивать мои грехи
the angel of death will have mercy on me – ангел смерти проявит ко мне милосердие
wrung his hands in wild despair – в отчаянии заломил руки
bent over it with old-fashioned grace – склонился со старомодной грацией
blew their horns – трубили в горны
Beware! – Берегись!
A bitter cold wind swept round them – Подул резкий холодный ветер
