s, with figures on top of them, holding big
lamps with ever so many globes, and Uncle Ridley says some
night, he will light them, so I can see how bright it makes it
all around, and way down the road. We went through, and then the
road began to wind around, and it was perfectly lovely; we went
up and up, under the grandest trees, and after a little ways,
there began to be statuary sitting around under them, and
beautiful seats made like the limbs of trees, all twisted
together. I saw a flight of stone steps, and they came up the
hill from another gate, for people that walk, and they look as
white as snow in the green grass. All of a sudden we turned
around a big curve, and I just screamed right out; I was so
surprised, and Uncle Ridley said that was Congreve Hall. Why,
mama, it is big enough to be a hotel in the city, and ever so
many people could go in the front door all at once, it is so
wide, and such lovely marble steps go up to it. There are two
big towers, and two funny little squatty ones, with a big stone
railing around the top, and there are porches, terraces Uncle
Ridley says they call them, all of stone. They go pretty near
around the house, and then end in steps, broad ones, that make a
big curve and come down to the ground. I think that's a mighty
funny way to build them. The house is such a pretty grey color,
and some places there is moss growing all over the sides, and
there are ever so many vines too, that Uncle Ridley says would
hold me up, they are so old and strong. Inside everything is so
big and grand and dark, that I was afraid at first, and never
went around anywhere unless uncle went with me; but I'm getting
more used to it now, and like to hunt around, in the big rooms,
and walk around in the splendid halls. My rooms, I have four you
know, are all furnished so sweet in blue and white, with the
dearest little easy chairs and sofas, and the cunningest little
bed, with an angel on top holding the pretty curtains that come
down all around. I just thought at first that I would want to
stay in bed all the time. My maid has a little room just off my
bath room, and she is such a funny girl. She combs my hair and
dresses me, and all that, and talks all the time just like a
monkey. Her name is Bettine, and she always calls me Miss Jean.
My governess, Miss Serl