They were in the middle of the hollow square that formed the courtyard of the castle. They had entered on the north side. On the same side were the stables, the kennels and the quarters for the outdoor servants. Opposite to them, on the south side, were the conservatories and forcing beds, protected by high walls. On the east side was the modern Enderby Castle, where the earl and his household lived in modest comfort. But on the west side, overhanging the terrible cliff, was the ancient Castle of Enderby, not quite a ruin, but deserted and desolate, abandoned to wind and wave, given over to bats and owls. At the foot of the awful rock the thunder of the sea was heard day and night. Those who lived habitually at the castle grew accustomed to it, but to temporary sojourners at Enderby there was something weird and terrible in the unceasing thunder of the sea against the rock. There was said to be a whirlpool through an enormous cavern at the foot of the cliff, having many inlets and outlets, and that the sea was drawn in and thrown out as by the sunken head of a many-mouthed monster. However that might be, it is certain that even in the finest weather, when the sea was calm everywhere else, the tempest raged against Enderby Cliff.
“The very, very first thing that I do to-morrow shall be to explore that old castle from top to bottom,” said Wynnette to herself, as the turning of the carriage hid it from her view.
CHAPTER XLI
THE EARL’S PERPLEXITY
A footman was lighting the lamps in the hall when the party entered.
“Are all well in the house, Prout?” inquired Mr. Force.
“All well, sir. My lord is taking his afternoon nap. The ladies are not down yet. The first dinner bell has just rung,” replied the man.
“Mamma and the girls are dressing for dinner, papa. I will just run up and see,” said Wynnette, flying up the stairs.
“Then we had better go to our rooms at once, Le, and get some of the dust of travel off us before we go to dinner,” said Mr. Force, as he followed Wynnette upstairs, though in a more leisurely fashion. Perhaps he was willing to put off, even for a few minutes, the painful task of communicating his discouraging news to Odalite.
When Mr. Force reached his apartment he found Wynnette standing in the middle of the room, under the hands of her mother’s ebony maid, Gipsy, who was helping her off with her duster.
“Where is your mother, my dear?” he inquired.