story
were two other small, dismal windows. At the end they law a window
on each story, and a third in the attic. These were all small and
dismal. Some of them had sashes and glass; others had sashes
without glass; while others had no sashes at all.

A group of men were outside the house, all of whom stared hard
at the carriage as it drew near. There was something in the
aspect of these men which was indescribably repulsive to the
boys: their dirty, swarthy faces, covered with shaggy, jet-black
beards; their bushy eyebrows, from beneath which their black eyes
glowed like balls of fire; their hats slouched down over their
brows; their lounging attitudes, and their furtive glances; all
these combined to give them an evil aspect--a wicked, sinister,
suspicious appearance, by which all the boys were equally impressed.
They said nothing, however; and much as they disliked the look
of the place and its surroundings, they saw that there was no
help for it, and so they made up their minds to pass the night
here as well as they could.

Leaving the carriage, they waited a few moments to ask the driver
about the prospects for the next day. The driver had everything
arranged. Velletre was only five miles away, and he was going to
send there for another carriage, or go himself. They would all be
able to leave early on the following day.

This reassured them somewhat, and though they all would have been
willing to walk to Velletre, rather than pass the night here, yet
Uncle Moses would not be able to do it, and so they had to make up
their minds to stay.

On entering the house, they found the interior quite in keeping
with the exterior. The hall was narrow, and on either side were
two dirty rooms, in which were some frowsy women. One room seemed
to be a kitchen, and the other a sitting-room. A rickety stairway
led up to the second story. Here they came to a room, which, they
were informed, was to be theirs. The door was fragile, and without
any fastening. The room was a large one, containing a table and
three beds, with one small wash-stand. Two windows looked out in
front, and at either end was one. At the south end the window had
no sash at all, but was open to the air.

The aspect of the room was certainly rather cheerless, but there
was nothing to be done. So they sat down, and waited as patiently
as they could for dinner. Before it came, the sun set, and a feeble
lamp was brought in, which flickered in the draughts