"Here is a magnificent cupboard," she announced. "There are many others."
As we passed through the house, we proved the truth of her words. I have never seen so many cupboards to the square mile in all my life.
My wife and my sister strove to dissemble their delight. At length
Cousin Jill, however, spoke frankly enough.
"They really are beautiful. Think of the room they give. You'll be able to put everything away."
Berry turned to me.
"Isn't it enough to induce a blood-clot? 'Beautiful.' Evil-smelling recesses walled up with painted wood. Birthplaces of mice. Impregnable hot-beds of vermin. And who wants to 'put everything away'?"
"Hush," said I. "They can't help it. Besides—— Hullo! Here's another bathroom."
"Without a bath," observed my brother-in-law. "How very convenient! Of course, you're up much quicker, aren't you? I suppose the idea is not to keep people waiting. Come along." We passed into a bedroom. "Oh, what a dream of a paper! 'Who Won the Boat-race, or The Battle of the Blues.' Fancy waking up here after a heavy night. I suppose the designer was found 'guilty, but insane.' Another two cupboards? Thanks. That's fifty-nine. And yet another? Oh, no. The backstairs, of course. As before, approached by a door which slides to and fro with a gentle rumbling noise, instead of swinging. The same warranted to jam if opened hastily. Can't you hear Falcon on the wrong side with a butler's tray full of glass, wondering why he was born? Oh, and the bijou spiral leads to the box-room, does it? I see. Adèle's American trunks, especially the five-foot cube, will go up there beautifully. Falcon will like this house, won't he?"
"I wish to goodness you'd be quiet," said Daphne. "I want to think."
"It's not me," said her husband. "It's that Inter-University wall-paper. And now where's the tower? I suppose that's approached by a wire rope with knots in it?"