Mary Wells was taking him into his own room, but Lady Bassett said,
"No: into my room. Oh, I will never let him out of my sight again."
Then they carried him into Lady Bassett's bedroom, and laid him gently
down on a couch there.
He looked round, observed the locality, and uttered a little sigh of
complacency. He left off talking for the present, and seemed to doze.
The place which exerted this soothing influence on Sir Charles had a
contrary and strange effect on Mr. Angelo.
It was of palatial size, and lighted by two side windows, and an oriel
window at the end. The delicate stone shafts and mullions were such as
are oftener seen in cathedrals than in mansions. The deep embrasure was
filled with beautiful flowers and luscious exotic leaf-plants from the
hot-houses. The floor was of polished oak, and some feet of this were
left bare on all sides of the great Aubusson carpet made expressly for
the room. By this means cleanliness penetrated into every corner: the
oak was not only cleaned, but polished like a mirror. The curtains were
French chintzes, of substance, and exquisite patterns, and very
voluminous. On the walls was a delicate rose-tinted satin paper, to
which French art, unrivaled in these matters, had given the appearance
of being stuffed, padded, and divided into a thousand cozy pillows, by
gold-headed nails.
Pages:
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220