hung by their sides--feeble and watery, or fat and
comfortable, as the case might be; also their fathers and
mothers-in-law, their brothers and remoter relatives; their
contemporary reigning princes, and their intimate friends. Of
the De Stancys pure there ran through the collection a mark by
which they might surely have been recognized as members of one
family; this feature being the upper part of the nose. Every
one, even if lacking other points in common, had the special
indent at this point in the face--sometimes moderate in
degree, sometimes excessive.

While looking at the pictures--which, though not in his
regular line of study, interested Somerset more than the
architecture, because of their singular dilapidation, it
occurred to his mind that he had in his youth been
schoolfellow for a very short time with a pleasant boy bearing
a surname attached to one of the paintings--the name of
Ravensbury. The boy had vanished he knew not how--he thought
he had been removed from school suddenly on account of ill
health. But the recollection was vague, and Somerset moved on
to the rooms above and below. In addition to the
architectural details of which he had as yet obtained but
glimpses, there was a great collection of old movables and
other domestic art-work--all more than a century old, and
mostly lying as lumber. There were suites of tapestry
hangings, common and fine; green and scarlet leather-work, on
which the gilding was still but little injured; venerable
damask curtains; quilted silk table-covers, ebony cabinets,
worked satin window-cushions, carved bedsteads, and
embroidered bed-furniture which had apparently screened no