"If you are
ready, madam," she said, "I will show you to the south parlour, where
the children will eat with you."
Aurelia ventured to ask about her baggage, and was told that it would
be forwarded from Brentford. Mrs. Aylward then led the way to a wide
stone staircase, with handsome carved balusters, leading down into the
great hall, with doors opening from all sides. All was perfectly
empty, and so still, that the sweep of the dresses, and the tap of the
heels made an echo; and the sunshine, streaming in at the large window,
marked out every one upon the floor, in light and shadow, and exactly
repeated the brown-shaded, yellow-framed medallions of painted glass
upon the pavement. There was something awful and oppressive in the
entire absence of all tokens of habitation, among those many closed
doors.
One, however, at the foot of the stairs was opened by Mrs. Aylward.
It led to a sort of narrow lobby, with a sashed window above a low
door, opening on stone steps down to the terrace and garden. To
the right was an open door, giving admittance to a room hung with
tapestry, with a small carpet in the centre of the floor, and a table
prepared for the morning meal. There was a certain cheerfulness about
it, though it was bare of furniture; but there was an easy chair, a
settee, a long couch, a spinnet, and an embroidery frame, so that
altogether it had capabilities of being lived in.
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