The front door was not locked, and we entered at once into the hall that ran parallel with the front of the house, and formed, in fact, a sort of anteroom to the large parlor that lay behind it. From this hall, besides the central door before us that led into the parlor, there was a door on the right hand and one on the left, leading into the side bedchambers in the wings; and by the side of the right-hand door, nearer the front wall, was the staircase leading up to the large chamber in the gable end, that was lighted and ventilated by that fan-shaped window seen in the front of the house over the portico. We passed through the hall, and through the large, empty parlor behind it, and entered the long dining-room in the rear. There we found Mrs. Hawkins and Alice awaiting us among the piled-up furniture. "You look tired and out of spirits, Madeleine. You must have worked harder than we did." "How have you got on?" I inquired. "Why, we have arranged the bedchambers and the kitchen--that is all. We have left the dining-room and parlor and hall to be put to rights to-morrow. But Hector has got the supper ready, and set the table in the kitchen; let us go in there; it is warmer. Come, girls--come, Will." As I before mentioned, the kitchen, pantry, laundry and servants' rooms were in a building behind the dwelling-house, not joined to it, but standing back to back with it at a distance of three feet. So we had to go out of doors to enter the kitchen. I remember even now the sense of comfort I experienced on entering that cozy room. It was a stone room, with a great fireplace, in which blazed a fine fire, a wide, high dresser, upon which shone, tier upon tier, rows of bright metal and clean crockeryware; in the middle of the floor was an inviting table, upon which smoked an abundant supper. "Ah!" said Will, with an appreciating glance at the board; "thus fortified, we can meet the enemy!" "Can you spend the night with us, Will?" inquired Mrs. Hawkins. "Oh, no! must return; mother doesn't know I'm out!" replied the youth. Accordingly, after supper Will prepared to take his leave of us. "Before you go, Will, I wish you to take Hector and the lantern and go over every foot of the grounds, and all along the walks, to see that everything is safe here," said our grandmother. "Of course, of course, noble lady! Order the seneschal and the luminary, and I will reconnoitre the state of the fortifications!" said Will, as he buttoned up his coat. By the time he had drawn on his gloves Hector appeared at the door with the lantern, and they sallied forth. I looked through an end window, and found strange amusement in watching the progress of that lantern up one shadowy walk and down another, and along the hedged wall, until at last it approached the house. Will entered, speaking gayly.