The rooms
Loder inhabited were on the highest floor; and from their
windows one might gaze philosophically on the tree-tops,
forgetting the uneven pavement and the worn railing that
hemmed them round. In the landing outside the rooms his name
appeared above his door, but the paint had been soiled by
time, and the letters for the most part reduced to shadows; so
that, taken in conjunction with the gaunt staircase and bare
walls, the place had a cheerless look.
Inside, however, the effect was somewhat mitigated. The room
on the right hand, as one entered the small passage that
served as hall, was of fair size, though low-ceiled. The
paint of the wall-panelling, like the name above the outer
door, had long ago been worn to a dirty and nondescript hue,
and the floor was innocent of carpet; yet in the middle of
the room stood a fine old Cromwell table, and on the plain
deal book-shelves and along the mantel-piece were some
valuable books--political and historical. There were no
curtains on the windows, and a common reading-lamp with a
green shade stood on a desk.
Pages:
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60