Chapter 5

           Afewdaysafterthis,Virginiaandhercurly-hairedcavalierwentoutridingonBrockleymeadows,whereshetoreherhabitsobadlyingettingthroughahedgethat,ontheirreturnhome,shemadeuphermindtogoupbythebackstaircasesoasnottobeseen. AsshewasrunningpasttheTapestryChamber,thedoorofwhichhappenedtobeopen,shefanciedshesawsomeoneinside,andthinkingitwashermother’smaid,whosometimesusedtobringherworkthere,lookedintoaskhertomendherhabit. Toherimmensesurprise,however,itwastheCantervilleGhosthimself! Hewassittingbythewindow,watchingtheruinedgoldoftheyellowingtreesflythroughtheair,andtheredleavesdancingmadlydownthelongavenue. Hisheadwasleaningonhishand,andhiswholeattitudewasoneofextremedepression. Indeed,soforlorn,andsomuchoutofrepairdidhelook,thatlittleVirginia,whosefirstideahadbeentorunawayandlockherselfinherroom,wasfilledwithpity,anddeterminedtotryandcomforthim. Solightwasherfootfall,andsodeephismelancholy,thathewasnotawareofherpresencetillshespoketohim. 

           "Iamsosorryforyou,"shesaid, "butmybrothersaregoingbacktoEtonto-morrow,andthen,ifyoubehaveyourself,noonewillannoyyou." 

           "Itisabsurdaskingmetobehavemyself,"heanswered,lookingroundinastonishmentattheprettylittlegirlwhohadventuredtoaddresshim,"quiteabsurd. Imustrattlemychains,andgroanthroughkeyholes,andwalkaboutatnight,ifthatiswhatyoumean. Itismyonlyreasonforexisting." 

           "Itisnoreasonatallforexisting,andyouknowyouhavebeenverywicked. Mrs.Umneytoldus,thefirstdaywearrivedhere,thatyouhadkilledyourwife."