“But, why, my dear sir,” said Madame Marie, at last quite weary of the phrase, “Why do you call it a ‘manor-house,’ and ‘feudal’? I have neither manor nor vassals, and I have no wish to possess any. Call it a house, built for me by those who love me, and which will always be open to our friends, and always accessible to those who may need our help.”
We may be sure that Paul’s resolution to become an architect was strengthened by what he felt on this occasion.
Let us hope that his career may be as successful as that of the house whose history is here recorded.
EXPLANATION
OF SOME OF THE TECHNICAL TERMS USED IN THIS BOOK.
Barrel-vault (berceau de voûte), means a vault forming simply a portion of a cylinder.
Basement (soubassement), part of a building which receives the ground floor; that is to say, what is comprised between the floor within and the ground without the building.
Bay-window (bretêche), a closed and covered balcony or loge, having front and lateral views, forming a projection without and a recess within. When supported on corbels it is termed an oriel.
Bearer (lambourde), piece of wood fixed horizontally against a wall, and intended to receive the ends of the joists of a floor. The term is also given to the strips of oak fastened on the plaster bed of a floor, and on which are screwed the slabs of parquetry.
Bed (banc), the word bed, as a geological term, signifies a homogeneous layer comprised between two natural horizontal beds or fissures, supposing that the mass has not been deformed by an upheaving. Limestones and some sandstones are extracted in beds. Their thickness is very variable.
Bed-stones (libage), stone suitable for foundations.