“Into Marble House, with its shadows and cobwebs. I’m sure I daren’t go.”
“Perhaps it has become less shadowy since you were there. There is spring cleaning, you know, in all well-regulated houses.”
“But it is not well regulated. There is one part all moths and mildew, and people live in it, or rather work there. I know, for Mariana does. How I should love to see her once again! And upstairs it is wretchedly lit. In fact, Mr. Barringcourt’s private room was the only human-looking place I ever saw there. But perhaps by now he has a wife. But she’ll need great strength of mind to get the necessary repairs done, I’m thinking. He seemed as if he would be very conservative, except where things affected his own comfort.”
“I don’t think he’s got a wife yet,” said the Governor.
When they had finished the meal, and the frog had had its full share of the dainties that were to its taste, the Governor led the way to his own room, and placing a chair for Rosalie near the fire, he drew his own to the other side of the fireplace and sat down.
“Do you object to smoke?” he asked.
“Oh, no! Uncle had a pipe that he had smoked for years and years and years. And the night before he died he let it fall, and it broke. I remember how sad he looked at the time—and perhaps there was more in it than just the breaking of the pipe, for he said nothing, but that he could soon get a new one. And if all things had been right I think it would have angered him.”
“You were greatly attached to your uncle?”
“Oh, yes! I loved them both. No one could have been kinder to me than they.”
“And now, when you go back to Lucifram, you have neither friend nor relation to go to.”