A story incorporating words which are pronounced with a silent ‘H’.

Arthur was the unlikely heir to Blackwood Manor. It was a crumbling, ancient house, and local legend said a mournful ghost roamed its halls at night. Arthur had never believed in such things, but the terms of the will were very clear: he must spend one whole hour in the manor’s library at midnight to claim his inheritance. His late great-uncle, a man of great honour, had set this test to ensure his legacy passed to someone equally worthy and honest.

On the chosen night, a cool mist hung in the air. Arthur drove his old vehicle slowly up the gravel driveway. The manor loomed before him, a dark shape against the moonless sky. He found the library easily, a dusty room filled with books and strange objects. In one corner, there was a small locked cabinet. On top of it, a single potted herb sat on a stand, its leaves brittle and dry. He had heard his uncle talk about this specific exhibit before; a rare plant he had collected on his travels.

The clock on the wall began to tick towards midnight. Arthur sat down, his heart beating a little faster despite his calm exterior. The wind howled outside, sounding like a whisper. Then, at the stroke of twelve, the clock chimed, and a faint light began to flicker in the air. A shape slowly formed, it was the ghost from the stories. It pointed a translucent finger towards the locked cabinet.

But Arthur was a practical man. He noticed the flickering wasn’t from a spirit, but a small lantern behind a cleverly hidden pane of glass. The ‘ghost’ was simply a projection, a brilliant and elaborate trick. A smile came to his face as he remembered his uncle’s words: “The most honourable man is one who doesn’t hide from the truth, no matter how scary it seems.”

He looked at the lantern, then at the herb, and then at the lock. He saw a small key hanging on a hook hidden behind the potted plant. His uncle’s test wasn’t about being brave, but about being clever enough to find the real answer, and honest enough to admit it wasn’t a ghost at all. He unlocked the cabinet, revealing a letter and the deeds to the manor. The letter read, “The man who proves to be truly honest will not be fooled by a mere light show.”

Arthur left the manor just before dawn, the deeds safely in his pocket. He had passed the test.

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Vocabulary Notes

Heir

Definition: An heir is a person who is legally entitled to receive the property or title of another person when that person dies. The ‘h’ at the beginning of this word is silent.
Example: “Arthur was the unlikely heir to Blackwood Manor.” This shows that Arthur was the person who would inherit the house and everything that came with it.
Similar words: successor, inheritor, beneficiary.

Honour
Definition: Honour means a strong sense of what is morally right. It is a quality of living by high moral standards. The ‘h’ at the beginning of this word is silent.
Example: “His late great-uncle, a man of great honour, had set this test…” This means the great-uncle was a person who was well-respected for his integrity and good character.
Similar words: integrity, virtue, dignity.

Honest
Definition: To be honest means to be truthful and sincere. It also means to be fair and free from deceit. The ‘h’ at the beginning of this word is silent.
Example: “…to ensure his legacy passed to someone equally worthy and honest.” Here, the word describes a person who can be trusted and who tells the truth.
Similar words: truthful, trustworthy, frank, genuine.

Vehicle
Definition: A vehicle is a machine, usually with wheels and an engine, used for transporting people or goods on land. The ‘h’ at the beginning of this word is silent.
Example: “Arthur drove his old vehicle slowly up the gravel driveway.” In this case, the vehicle is a car that Arthur uses to drive to the manor.
Similar words: automobile, car, conveyance, transport.

Exhibit
Definition: An exhibit is an item or a collection of items on public display in a museum or at an exhibition. The ‘h’ at the beginning of this word is silent.
Example: “He had heard his uncle talk about this specific exhibit before…” The potted herb was a specific item that was on display for others to see in the library.
Similar words: display, specimen, artifact, object.

Story written by Gemini Pro AI.

Image created by 1min.ai.

CC Music: Drifting at 432 Hz – Unicorn Heads.

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