"Do you see that high mound?" asked Mrs. Pitt, pointing to the northern end of the court. "There AEthelflaed, the daughter of Alfred the Great, is supposed to have built a castle, and thus the history of Warwick may be said to have commenced in 914. Just fancy! Since that day, many great families have been in possession here (De Newburghs, Beauchamps, Nevilles, Plantagenets),--from traditional Guy of Warwick to 'Warwick the King-maker,' and all along the line to the Greville family, which has owned it since 1759. 'Warwick the King-maker,' or Richard Neville, was the famous baron who possessed such wonderful power in England that he could make and unmake kings at his will. It was he who captured poor, weak Edward IV, and brought him here as a prisoner. Of Guy of Warwick, the great warrior and hero, I shall tell you more when we are at Guy's Cliff, where he lived. He is really more associated with that place than this. You will see here, however, what is known as 'Guy's Porridge Pot.' It is an interesting old vessel, very large and made of metal. Most probably it had nothing whatever to do with the great Guy; some authorities consider, because of the existence of this little rhyme, that it belonged to a certain Sir John Talbot, who died about 1365. 'There is nothing left of Talbot's name, But Talbot's pot and Talbot's Lane.' But let's go over to that door by which we enter. There comes a guide with his party; perhaps we can go in with them." They found the interior of Warwick Castle very delightful, and in a perfect state of preservation, for the family of the present Earl occupy it often. The ever-present Great Hall is here more grand and lofty than that of Charlecote, though it has not the appearance of as great antiquity as the one at beautiful Penshurst Place. Its walls are lined with old suits of armor, but, nevertheless, the room is furnished with comfortable easy-chairs, as the family, when in residence, use this as their living-room. Among the collection of armor is the helmet of Oliver Cromwell, and a whole miniature suit of mail which was once worn by the little dwarfed son of Robert Dudley, the famous Earl of Leicester. In a great bay-window, overlooking the Avon, stands the huge caldron of Guy of Warwick. Strangely enough, an exquisite Elizabethan saddle of green velvet had found a temporary resting-place in its great depths. "I think this Cedar Room is very beautiful," remarked Mrs. Pitt, as they stepped into that apartment. "Do you see that the walls are entirely of cedar wood from floor to ceiling? Isn't the effect rich, and doesn't it smell good? Do you notice the fine carving, and the pictures,--some of Van Dyck's best works? Oh! I must not call your attention to so many things all at once!"