[Planetlab-slices] of Lady Mary and Charl

[Nop A. <mo...@ma...>]

And similar small deer. The old square hall at Vandon, with its great
stained glass windows, representing the various quarterings of the Dare
arms, about which he knew nothing and cared less, oppressed him. So did
the black polished oak floor, and the walls with their white
bass-reliefs of twisting wreaths and scrolls, with busts at intervals of
Cicero and Dante, and other severe and melancholy personages. The
rapiers upon the high white chimney-piece were more to his taste. He had
taken them down the first day after his arrival, and had stamped and cut
and thrust in the most approved style, in the presence of Faust, the
black poodle. Dare was not the kind of man to be touched by it; but to
many minds there would have been something pathetic in seeing a house,
which had evidently been an object of the tender love and care of a
by-gone generation, going to rack and ruin from neglect. Careful hands
had embroidered, in the fine exquisite work of former days, marvellous
coverlets and hangings, which still adorned the long suites of empty
bedrooms. Some one had taken an elaborate pleasure in fitting up those
rooms, had put _pot-pourri_ in tall Oriental jars in the passages, had
covered the old inlaid Dutch chairs with dim needle-work. The Dare who
had lived at cou