walked before them to a door opposite that by which they
had entered. They found themselves in a small vestibule, out of which,
on one hand, a door led into a cloak-room, while on the other ascended
a flight of stone stairs. There was nothing noticeable in the rooms
above; the windows here were also very dirty, and mist floated below
the ceilings.

The caretaker had remained below, contenting herself with indicating
the way.

'You seem disappointed,' Walter said. He himself had ceased to talk, he
felt cold and uncomfortable.

'No, no, indeed I'm not,' Grail hastened to reply. 'I think it is as
good a place as you could have found.'

'We don't see it under very inspiriting conditions. Fire and light and
comfortable furniture would make a wonderful difference, even on a day
like this.'

Gilbert reproached himself for taking so coldly his friend's generous
zeal.

'And books still more,' he replied, 'The room below will be a grand
sight with shelves all round the walls.'

'Well, I must make further inquiries, but I think the place will suit
us.'

They descended, their footsteps ringing on the stone and echoing up to
the roof. The old woman still stood at the foot of the stairs, her head
bent, the hand against her side.

'Will you go out here,' she asked, 'or do you want to see anythink
else?'

'I should like to see the back part again,' Egremont replied.

She led them across the schoolroom, through the dark passage, and into
a small room which had the distant semblance of a parlour. Here she lit
a lamp; then, without speaking, guided them over the house, of which
she appeared to be the only inhabitant. There were seven rooms; only
three of them contained any furniture. Then they all returned to the
comfortless parlour.

'Your chest is bad,' Egremont remarked, looking curiously at the woman.

'Yes, I dessay it is,' was the ungracious reply.

'Well, I don't think we need trouble you any more at present, but I
shall probably have to come again in a day or two.'

'I dessay you'll find me here.'

'And feeling better, I hope. The weather gives you much trouble, no
doubt.'

He held half a crown to her. She regarded it, clasped it in the hand
which was against her bosom, and at length dropped a curtsy, though
without speaking.

'What a poor crabbed old creature!' Egremont exclaimed, as they walked
away. 'I should feel relieved if I knew that she went off at once to
the warmth of the public-house opposite.'