ave no doubt on the subject."

"After all it does not make much difference," said Mary.

"I think it makes all the difference in the world," said Lady Susanna.
"That piece of furniture will always be sacred to me, because I
believe it did once afford rest and sleep to the gracious majesty of
England."

"It do make a difference, certainly," said Miss Tallowax, looking at
the bed with all her eyes. "Does anybody ever go to bed here now?"

"Nobody, ever," said Lady Sarah. "Now we will go through to the great
dining hall. That's the portrait of the first earl."

"Painted by Kneller," said Lady Amelia, proudly.

"Oh, indeed," said Miss Tallowax.

"There is some doubt as to that," said Lady Sarah. "I have found out
that Sir Godfrey Kneller was only born in 1648, and as the first earl
died a year or two after the restoration, I don't know that he could
have done it."

"It was always said that it was painted by Kneller," said Lady Amelia.

"There has been a mistake, I fear," said Lady Sarah.

"Oh, indeed," said Miss Tallowax, looking up with intense admiration at
a very ill-drawn old gentleman in armour. Then they entered the state
dining-room or hall, and Miss Tallowax was informed that the room had
not been used for any purpose whatever for very many years. "And such a
beautiful room!" said Miss Tallowax, with much regret.

"The fact is, I believe, that the chimney smokes horribly," said Lord
George.

"I never remember a fire here," said Lady Sarah. "In very cold weather
we have a portable stove brought in, just to preserve the furniture.
This is called the old ball room."

"Dear me!" ejaculated Miss Tallowax, looking round at the faded yellow
hangings.

"We did have a ball here once," said Lady Amelia, "when Brotherton came
of age. I can just remember it."

"Has it never been used since?" asked Mary.

"Never," said Lady Sarah. "Sometimes when it's rainy we walk up and
down for exercise. It is a fine old house, but I often wish that it
were smaller. I don't think people want rooms of this sort now as much
as they used to do. Perhaps a time may come when my brother will make
Manor Cross gay again, but it is not very gay now. I think that is all,
Miss Tallowax."

"It's very fine;--very fine indeed," said Miss Tallowax, shivering.
Then they all trooped back into the morning room which they used for
their daily life.

The old lady when she had got back into the brougham with her nephew,
the Dean, was able