The staircase looked broader and better as she descended to the room into which she had been taken on her arrival, and found that it was well lit, and a cheerful fire blazing; but she had hardly had time to glance round when the woman appeared at the door.
“Breakfast’s quite ready, miss,” she said. “Will you please to come this way?”
She led the way across the hall, but paused and turned back to a door, and pushed it a little way open.
“Big lib’ry, miss. Little lib’ry’s upstairs at the back-two rooms. There’s a good fire here. Like to see it now?”
“No, not now.”
“This way then, miss,” and the woman threw open a door on the other side.
“Dining-room, miss. There ain’t no drawing-room; but master said this morning that if you wished he’d have the big front room turned into one. I put your breakfast close to the fire, for it’s a bit chilly to-day.”
Kate thought she might as well have said “to-night,” as she glanced round the formal but richly furnished room, with its bright brass fireplace, and breakfast spread on a small table, and looking attractive and good.
“I made you tea, miss, because I thought you’d like it better; but I’ll soon have some coffee ready if you prefer it. Best tea, master’s wonderfully particular about having things good.”
“I prefer tea,” said Kate, quietly, as she took her place, feeling more and more how strange and unreal everything appeared.