are all right! Picturesqueness is all very well—but, however, we'll go a bit nearer."
We went slowly across the park, admiring its sylvan beauties, past the shining water, past the shy deer, and up to the front of the house, Madrasia's ecstasies of admiration increasing with every step we took. And as for myself, I was beginning to have a great wonder and an itching curiosity—especially the itching curiosity. What were we doing here?
But Parslewe seemed to know. He led us straight to the front door, which stood open.
"This is a show-place on certain days in the week," he said. "This is one of those days, so we can go in."
We went in. An elderly woman appeared. She wore a black silk apron, and a thin gold chain round her neck; I took these to be symbolic of her rank and estate as housekeeper. And I noticed that after a first glance at him, she gave Parslewe a steady, knowing inspection.
"Good morning to you, ma'am," said Parslewe, with his best old-fashioned
