And it was certainly the most cheerful, with its brightly flowered chintz curtains and shining mahogany chairs and tables.
After that came a billiard room, a small den used as a smoking room, and a breakfast room.
“Who wants to see the attic?” said Martin.
“We all do?” came in a chorus from the young people.
“Now, girls,” protested Miss Sallie, “remember you were to take your rest this afternoon.”
“Oh, we shan’t be up there long,” said Martin. “We promise you to bring them back in time for the beauty sleep.”
“Very well,” answered Miss Sallie; “go along with you. It’s very hard to be strict, Major. Don’t you find it so!”
“I never even tried the experiment, Sallie,” replied the gentle old soldier, “because I always found it harder on me than on the boys. It’s really a certain sort of selfishness on my part, I suppose. Cut along now, boys, and don’t keep the girls from their rest too long.”
The pilgrimage started up the great front staircase, led by Martin and his older brother, who together had made many excursions to the attic and knew the way by heart.
On the second floor the explorers followed a passage that led to another flight of stairs, and this in turn to another passage, and finally to one last narrow flight of steps with a mysterious door at the top.