What struck all these visitors was the heavy and rather gloomy character of their apartments. Thick Brussels carpets, thick moreen window curtains, and bed curtains of dull colors and dingy appearance, massive bedsteads, bureaus, presses and chairs.
“And they call this the modern part of the castle! Oh, I know I shall see ghosts!” said Wynnette.
When they were all ready, they went downstairs to the hall, all hung with suits of armor, and decorated with arms, shields, spears, banners, battle-axes, and so on, and with stags’ heads and other trophies of the battlefield and the chase.
Here a footman showed them into the breakfast room, where the earl sat waiting for them. Breakfast was served in a very few minutes.
After breakfast the whole party adjourned to the drawing room, a vast, gloomy apartment with walls lined with old oil paintings, windows hung with heavy, dark curtains; floor covered with a thick, dull carpet, and filled up with massive furniture.
After they had been seated for a while, the earl arose, taking his cane in one hand and the arm of his brother-in-law with the other, and said:
“I hope you will amuse yourselves as you please, my dears, and excuse me: I wish to have a talk on family matters with your parents in the library. If you would like to go over the house, call one of the maids or the housekeeper to be your guide,” he concluded, as he left the room, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Force.
Odalite acted on her uncle’s suggestion, rang the bell, and requested to see the housekeeper.
Mrs. Kelsy came, and on being requested, expressed her willingness to show the young ladies over the house.
“And to the picture gallery first, if you please,” she said, as she led the way across the hall to a long room on the opposite side.