There were two wings, or "ells." In the west wing was the kitchen and evidently both sitting and sleeping rooms, upstairs and down--enough to serve all their present needs. Aunt Jane had told them that there were, altogether, twenty-two rooms in the old house. Lucas hitched his horses and then began to lift down their luggage. Lyddy led the way to the side door, of which she had the key. The lower windows were defended by tight board shutters, all about the house. The old house had been well guarded from the depredations of casual wayfarers. Had tramps passed this way the possible plunder in the old house had promised to be too bulky to attract them; and such wanderers could have slept as warmly in the outbuildings. Lyddy inserted the key and, after some trouble, for the lock was rusty, turned it. There was an ancient brass latch, and she lifted it and pushed the door open. "My! isn't it dark--and musty," the older sister said, hesitating on the threshold. "Welcome to the ghosts of Hillcrest," spoke 'Phemie, in a sepulchral voice. "Oh, don't!" gasped Lyddy. She had not been afraid of Cyrus Pritchett, but 'Phemie's irreverence for the spirits of the old house shocked her. "All right," laughed the younger girl. "We'll cut out the ghosts, then." "We most certainly _will_. If I met a ghost here I'd certainly cut him dead!" 'Phemie went forward boldly and opened the door leading into the big kitchen. It was gloomy there, too, for the shutters kept out most of the light. The girls could see, however, that it was a well-furnished room. They were delighted, too, for this must be their living-room until they could set the house to rights. "Dust, dust everywhere," said 'Phemie, making a long mark in it with her finger on the dresser. "But _only_ dust. We can get cleaned up here all right by evening. Come! unhook the shutters and let in the light of day." The younger girl raised one of the small-paned window sashes, unbolted the shutter, and pushed both leaves open. The light streamed in and almost at once Lucas's head appeared. "How does it look to ye--eh?" he asked, grinning. "Gee! the hearth's all cleared and somebody's had a fire here." "It must have been a long time ago," returned Lyddy, noting the crusted ashes between the andirons. "Wa-al," said Lucas, slowly. "I'll git to work with the axe an' soon start ye a fire there, B-r-r-r! it's cold as a dog's nose in there," and he disappeared again. But the sunlight and air which soon flooded the room through all the windows quickly gave the long-shut-up kitchen a new atmosphere. 'Phemie already had on a working dress, having changed at the Pritchett house after her unfortunate ducking; Lyddy soon laid aside her own better frock, too. Then they found their bundle of brooms and brushes, and set to work. There was a pump on the back porch and a well in the yard. During all these empty years the leather valve of the pump had rotted away; but Lucas brought them water from the well.