furniture was all of red walnut, and carved in shells and flower reliefs.
There were so many tables, little and larger, with claw-feet or
spindle-legs, that one had to be careful not to overturn their loads of
Chinese dragons, ivory carvings, grotesque Delft beasts, and fans, French
or Spanish or of the Orient. There was also a spinet, and a corner closet
of books, of which every packet brought her a variety. Upstairs was a fair
room full of volumes, big and little, as I found to my joy rather later,
and these were of all kinds: some good, and some of them queer, or naughty.
Over the wide, white fireplace was a portrait of herself by the elder
Peale, but I prefer the one now in my library. This latter hung, at the
time I speak of, between the windows. It was significant of my aunt's idea
of her own importance that she should have wished to possess two portraits
of herself. The latter was painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds when she was in
England in 1750, and represents her as a fine, large woman with features
which were too big for loveliness in youth, but in after-years went well
with her abundant gray hair and unusual stature; for, like the rest of us,
she was tall, of vigorous and wholesome build and colour, with large,
well-shaped hands, and the strength of a man--I might add, too, with the
independence of a man. She went her own way, conducted the business of her
estate, which was ample, with skill and ability, and asked advice from no
one. Like my father, she had a liking to control those about her, was
restlessly busy, and was never so pleased as when engaged in arranging
other people's lives, or meddling with the making of matches.

To this ample and luxurious house came the better class of British
officers, and ombre and quadrille were often, I fear, played late into the
long nights of winter. Single women, after a certain or uncertain age, were
given a brevet title of "Mistress." Mistress Gainor Wynne lost or won with
the coolness of an old gambler, and this habit, perhaps more than aught
beside, troubled my father. Sincere and consistent in his views, I can