The front door opened and a fat negro woman, apparently startled by the arrival of the wagon, made her appearance, asking:
"What de debbil all dis, chillun?"
"Here are some books that are to be put into the library, Aunt Katie, and this young man is to unpack and arrange them," answered the overseer.
"More books: my hebbinly Lord, what ole marse want wid more books, when he nebber here to read dem he has got?" exclaimed the fat woman, raising her hands in dismay.
"That is none of our business, Katie! What we are to do is to obey orders; so, if you please, let us have the keys," replied Gray.
The woman disappeared within the house and remained absent for a few minutes, during which the men lifted the boxes from the wagon.
By the time they had set down the last one Katie reappeared with her heavy bunch of keys and beckoned them to follow her.
Ishmael obeyed, by shouldering a small box and entering the house, while Reuben Gray and Sam took up a heavy one between them and came after.
It was a noble old hall, with its walls hung with family pictures and rusty arms and trophies of the chase; with doors opening on each side into spacious apartments; and with a broad staircase ascending from the center.
The fat old negro housekeeper, waddling along before the men, led them to the back of the hall, and opened a door on the right, admitting them into the library of Tanglewood.