Герберт Уэллс - Кентервильское привидение. Человек-невидимка / The Canterville Ghost. The Invisible Man

Lord Canterville listened very gravely to the worthy Minister’s speech, pulling his grey moustache now and then [131]to hide an involuntary smile, and when Mr. Otis had ended, he shook him cordially by the hand, and said: “My dear sir, your charming little daughter rendered my unlucky ancestor, Sir Simon, a very important service, and I and my family are much indebted to her for her marvellous courage and pluck. The jewels are clearly hers, and, I believe that if I were heartless enough to take them from her, the wicked old fellow would be out of his grave in a fortnight, leading me the devil of a life. [132]As for their being heirlooms, nothing is an heirloom that is not so mentioned in a will or legal document, and the existence of these jewels has been quite unknown. I assure you I have no more claim on them than your butler, and when Miss Virginia grows up, I dare say she will be pleased to have pretty things to wear. Besides, you forget, Mr. Otis, that you took the furniture and the ghost at a valuation, [133]and anything that belonged to the ghost passed at once into your possession, [134]as, whatever activity Sir Simon may have shown in the corridor at night, in point of law he was really dead, and you acquired his property by purchase.”

Mr. Otis was a good deal distressed at Lord Canterville’s refusal, and begged him to reconsider his decision, but the good-natured peer was quite firm, and finally induced the Minister to allow his daughter to retain the present the ghost had given her, and when, in the spring of 1890, the young Duchess of Cheshire was presented at the Queen’s first drawing-room on the occasion [135]of her marriage, her jewels were the universal theme of admiration. For Virginia received the coronet, which is the reward of all good little American girls, and was married to her boy-lover as soon as he came of age. [136]They were both so charming, and they loved each other so much, that every one was delighted at the match, [137]except the old Marchioness of Dumbleton, who had tried to catch the Duke for one of her seven unmarried daughters, [138]and had given no less than three expensive dinner-parties for that purpose, and, strange to say, Mr. Otis himself. Mr. Otis was extremely fond of the young Duke personally, but, theoretically, he objected to titles. His objections, however, were completely overruled, [139]and I believe that when he walked up the aisle of St. George’s, [140]Hanover Square, with his daughter leaning on his arm, there was not a prouder man in the whole length and breadth of England. [141]

The Duke and Duchess, after the honeymoon was over, went down to Canterville Chase, and on the day after their arrival they walked over in the afternoon to the lonely churchyard by the pine-woods. There had been a great deal of difficulty at first about the inscription on Sir Simon’s tombstone, but finally it had been decided to engrave on it simply the initials of the old gentleman’s name, and the verse from the library window. The Duchess had brought with her some lovely roses, which she strewed upon the grave, and after they had stood by it for some time they strolled into the ruined chancel of the old abbey. There the Duchess sat down on a fallen pillar, while her husband lay at her feet smoking a cigarette and looking up at her beautiful eyes. Suddenly he threw his cigarette away, took hold of her hand, and said to her, “Virginia, a wife should have no secrets from her husband.”

“Dear Cecil! I have no secrets from you.”

“Yes, you have,” he answered, smiling, “you have never told me what happened to you when you were locked up with the ghost.”

“I have never told anyone, Cecil,” said Virginia, gravely.

“I know that, but you might tell me.”

“Please don’t ask me, Cecil, I cannot tell you. Poor Sir Simon! I owe him a great deal. Yes, don’t laugh, Cecil, I really do. He made me see what Life is, and what Death signifies, and why Love is stronger than both.”

The Duke rose and kissed his wife lovingly.

“You can have your secret as long as I have your heart,” he murmured.

“You have always had that, Cecil.”

“And you will tell our children some day, won’t you?”

Virginia blushed.

1. Answer the questions:

1. When did the funeral start?

2. Who was the chief mourner?

3. Where was the grave dug?

4. Who read the service?

5. What did the servants do after the ceremony?

6. What did Virginia lay on the coffin?

7. Why was Mr. Otis distressed at Lord Canterville’s refusal to take the jewels?

8. When did Virginia marry her boy-lover?

9. Where did the Duke and Duchess go after their honeymoon?

10. What was written on Sir Simon’s tombstone?

2. True or false?

1. The coffin was covered by a rich green pall, on which was embroidered in gold the Canterville coat-of-arms

2. Mr. Otis was the chief mourner.

3. A deep grave had been dug in the corner of the churchyard, just under the old yew-tree.

4. As the coffin was being lowered into the grave, Virginia stepped forward, and laid on it a beautiful red rose.

5. Mr. Otis had an interview with Lord Canterville on the subject of the jewels the ghost had given to Virginia.

6. Lord Canterville was happy to get the jewels.

7. Mr. Otis was a good deal distressed at Lord Canterville’s refusal to take the jewels, and begged him to reconsider his decision.

8. In the spring of 1860, the young Duchess of Cheshire was presented at the Queen’s first drawing-room on the occasion of her marriage.

9. Mr. Otis was extremely fond of the young Duke personally and he didn’t object any titles.

10. Virginia told her husband all her secrets.

3. Find in the text the English equivalents to the following words and expressions:

свинцовый, герб, присутствовать на похоронах, в соответствии с древним обычаем, рубиновое ожерелье, побрякушки, теребя свои седые усы, незадачливый предок, добродушный, предмет восхищения, диадема, надпись на могильной плите, алтарь, быть обязанным.

4. Write questions to the following answers.

1. The funeral started from Canterville Chase at about eleven o’clock at night.

2. The leaden coffin was covered by a rich purple pall.

3. By the side of the hearse and the coaches walked the servants with lighted torches.

4. Lord Canterville came up specially from Wales to attend the funeral.

5. The service was read by the Rev. Augustus Dampier.

6. Virginia laid on the coffin a large cross made of white and pink almond-blossoms.

7. Heirloom is some kind of jewelry, that has been passed down for generations through family members.

8. In the spring of 1890, the young Duchess of Cheshire was presented at the Queen’s first drawing-room on the occasion of her marriage.

9. After the honeymoon was over, the Duke and Duchess went down to Canterville Chase.

10. The Duchess strewed some lovely roses upon Sir Simon’s grave.

5. Fill in the gaps with the words from the box.

1. The ______________ was drawn by eight black horses.

2. They were perfectly magnificent, especially a certain ruby necklace with old Venetian ______________.