Without speaking, she rose and hurried to the door so that they could leave first and was aware as she did so that she was followed by the stranger and her brother.
She walked ahead of them into the hall.
She thought perhaps that, when the tradesmen went outside to claim the drinks they had been promised, some of those who were curious might look into the drawing room.
She therefore went on down the passage to the library.
It was a large and at one time a very beautiful room. But just as everywhere else in the house, the diamond-paned windows were cracked or broken.
The velvet curtains were faded and the lining was in shreds.
All the good furniture had been sold and the books too that covered the shelves had been sorted through for anything that was worth selling.
They had fetched v
