“Papa, it must be half a guinea, and don’t you forget!” whispered Wynnette, as she gave her hand to Kirby and allowed him to help her out of the carriage.
Mr. Force and Le followed, and they all walked up the steps, to be met by the enormous woman in blue, with many courtesies.
She led them at once into a vast stone hall, whose walls were hung with ancient armor, battle-axes, crossbows, lances and other insignia of war; and with horns, bugles, antlers, weapons and trophies of the chase, and whose tessellated floor was covered with the skins of wild animals. From the center of this hall a magnificent flight of stairs ascended, in large, spiral circles, to the stained glass skylight in the roof.
There were handsome doors of solid oak on either side.
Mrs. Bolton paused in the middle of the hall and said:
“The doors on the right lead into the justice room, and the long dining room; those on the left into the ballroom, which is the largest room, three times told, in the house. There is nothing on this floor very interesting except the antique furniture and the curiously carved woodwork of the chimney pieces and doors.”
She spoke like a guide book, but presently added:
“Some gentlefolks, if they have a heap of time, like to look through them, but many prefer the picture gallery and the library, and the drawing rooms, which are all on the floor above and all very handsome.”
“We will go upstairs first, if you please; later, if we have time, we will see the rooms down here,” said Abel Force.
The housekeeper led the way upstairs to the next landing, where they came out upon the hall, whose walls were hung with antique tapestry, and whose oaken floor was covered here and there with Persian rugs.