Venetia

rge fire in the green drawing-room. Dr. Masham had promised to read the evening service in the chapel, wh

e elders to the chapel; they walked

s house,’ said Plantagenet to his

of it is shut up. Nobody ever

ll the roads were blocked up, in many places ten or twelve feet deep. All communication was stopped. This was an adventure that amused the children, thoug

aircase into mountains, the great hall into an ocean, and the different rooms into so many various regions. They amused themselves with their adventures, and went on endless voyages of discovery.

before you came to Cherbury?’ in

netia; ‘but I was so young that I hav

e here before you ca

eard if anybody did. I, I,’ she continued

r your papa?’ s

said V

lmost as soon as you were

’ said Venetia, and

ver lived here!’

stions about my papa,’ said Veneti

of him often enough. They did not agree very well; and, when we quarrel, she alw

mma did,’ rep

s standing with Lady Annabel in the recess of a distant window. Her ladyship’s countenance was averted; she was reading a newspaper, which the Doctor had gi

g, little folks?’ inquired t

,’ said Venetia, ‘and now that we have conqu

f conquest,’ said t

to believe that, after all, you would be more plea

et, ‘if Lady Annabel would be so kind as to permit u

tly, ‘and I do not think by any means a suitable one. There cannot b

id Mrs. Cadurcis, rousing herself: ‘I wond

Venetia; ‘I think, after all, I

‘we will do our lessons as usual. Holidays

l course of life. With their mornings occupied, they found their sources of relaxation ample; and in the even

n the hall with Venetia, said to her, ‘I saw your mamma go into the lo

tia; ‘when could you ha

I do not know why; but I like it very much. Everything is so still, and then you hear the owls. I cannot make out why it is; but nothing gives me more pleasure than to get up when everybody

Venetia, ‘how came

tened at first; only I thought it would not do for a Cadurcis to be afraid, so I stood

me so, Plantagen

thing to be alarmed about; it was Lady Annabel, nobody else. I saw her as clearly as I see you now. She walked along the gallery, and

inquired Ven

‘I thought it would seem so silly if I were caught, and I migh

ome of the younger servants had made and rolled to the window of the terrace-room. It was ornamented with a crown of holly and mistletoe, and th

ndicated the effect that it had produced upon her mind, her mother took the occasion of impressing upon her the little credibility which should be attached to such legends, and the rational process by which many unquestionable apparitions might be accounted for. Dr. Masham, following this train, recounted a story of a ghost which had been generally received in a neighbouring village

said Lady Annabel, smil

itherto listened in silence, ‘it is very curious

’ said t

is. ‘I thought I was sleeping in the uninhabited rooms h

who was seated by him, and who

Cadurcis, i

dream,’ said Mrs. Cadurc

ious story,’ said the Doctor; ‘and it is q

speedily became interested in the narrative; but Lady Annab