The fourth and fifth doors--both belonging to dismantled
and uninhabited rooms, and both locked-brought them to the end of the
north wing of the house, and to the opening of a second and shorter
passage, placed at a right angle to the first. Here old Mazey, who had
divided his time pretty equally during the investigation of the rooms,
in talking of "his honor the Admiral," and whistling to the dogs,
returned with all possible expedition to the points of the compass, and
gravely directed Magdalen to repeat the ceremony of putting her back
against the wall. She attempted to shorten the proceedings, by declaring
(quite correctly) that in her present position she knew she was
looking east. "Don't you talk about the east, my dear," said old Mazey,
proceeding unmoved with his own system of instruction, "till you know
the east first. Put your back ag'in this wall, and look straight afore
you. What do you see?" The remainder of the catechism proceeded as
before. When the end was reached, Magdalen's instructor was satisfied.
He chuckled and winked at her once more. "Now you may talk about the
east, my dear," said the veteran, "for now you know it."
The east passage, after leading them on for a few yards only, terminated
in a vestibule, with a high door in it which faced them as they
advanced.
Pages:
1011
1012
1013
1014
1015
1016
1017
1018
1019
1020
1021
1022
1023
1024
1025
1026
1027
1028
1029
1030
1031
1032
1033
1034
1035