The Canterville Ghost Chapter -1 Class-11 (Summary in English)

Chapter -1 The  Canterville Ghost .


 Summary in english

The American Minister, Mr. Hiram B. Otis bought  Canterville Chase, Which everyone was sured to be a haunted place. Even Lord Canterville, a  man of honour, felt his duty to mention the fact to Mr. Otis before discussing terms of purchase. He told Mr. Otis that his grandaunt, Who was frightened by two skeleton hands being placed in her shoulders when she was dressing for dinner, had never recovered after that. He also told him that several other family members had seen the ghost in the house. Mr. Otis was firm in his decision and said that he would  take the furniture and the ghost at a valuation of the house. He said that he had come from a modern country where people love to play with such ghosts.

 Mr. Canterville also told Mr. Otis that the ghost had always  made his appearance before the death of any member of their family. But Mr. Otis mocked at the statement by saying that even the family doctor pays his visit before the death of any person. He also mocked at the british aristocracy, saying that Americans are very natural.  

 Mr. Otis bought the house and the family shifted in by the end of the season. Mrs. Otis who as Miss Lucretia R. Tappan, was a very beautifull middle-aged woman with fine eyes and superb profile. She was quite English. She had four children. The eldest son, Washington was a fair-haired, good locking young man, was  also a good dancer, Miss Varginia E. Otis was little girl of fifteen. She was very good at horse riding, After these two kids Mrs. Otis had two twins who were usuallycalleed "The Star and Stripes" as they were naughty and delightful. Morever  they were the only true republicans of the familt.

 Mr. Otis started along with his family from Ascot to the Canterville Chase. As they entered the avenue, the sky became dark, a great flight of rooks passed silently over their heads and suddenly started raining.

 The family was received by Mrs. Umney, The housekeeper. She welcomed the family and offered them tea. While having tea, Mrs. Otis saw blood stains on the floors by the fireplace. The housekeeper said the blood had been split on that spot by the ghost. Everyone igonred. The old lady told that it was the blood of lady Eleanore de Canterville who was murdered on that very spot by her husband, Sir Simon de Canterville, in 1575. Sir Simon survived nine years and then disappeared suddenly. And now his guilty spirit haunts the Chase. She also said that the blood stains had been admired by others but could never be removed. Listening that Washinggton Otis offered Pinkerton's Champion Stain Remover and Paragon Detergent to clean the stains and soon the entire family cleaned them. They admired their work. Soon a terrible flash of lighting lit up the room which caused Mrs. Umney to faint strnage  on the act. Later Mrs. Umney warned Mr. Otis to beware of some trouble coming to the  house, but Mr. Otis and his wife warmly assured her that they were not afraid of ghosts. 


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