portico propped by fluted pillars; and a grave butler who bolted
back swing-doors, and came down steps, and pretended to have
entirely forgotten his familiar intercourse with you at less
serious moments; and a big hall, where no boots or shoes or
upper garments were allowed to lie about frankly and easily, as
with us; and where, finally, people were apt to sit about dressed
up as if they were going on to a party.

The lady who received us was effusive to Aunt Eliza and hollowly
gracious to me. In ten seconds they had their heads together and
were hard at it talking CLOTHES. I was left high and dry on a
straight-backed chair, longing to kick the legs of it, yet not
daring. For a time I was content to stare; there was lots to
stare at, high and low and around. Then the inevitable fidgets
came on, and scratching one's legs mitigated slightly, but did
not entirely disperse them. My two warders were still deep in
clothes; I slipped off my chair and edged cautiously around the
room, exploring, examining, recording.

Many strange, fine things lay along my route--pictures and
gimcracks on the walls, trinkets and globular old watches and
snuff-boxes on the tables; and I took good care to finger
everything within reach thoroughly and conscientiously. Some
articles, in addition, I smelt. At last in my orbit I happened
on an open door, half concealed by the folds of a curtain. I
glanced carefully around. They were still deep in clothes, both
talking together, and I slipped through.

This was altogether a more sensible sort of room that I had got
into; for the walls were honestly upholstered with books, though