She led the way down the winding stair and across the flagged hall, which Sadie mutely pointed out to her brother as they silently followed their guide. All the windows in the library were open, and the cool, fresh air met them on the threshold. Again the same note of shabbiness and painful care was evident, but the room was well-furnished with books, which completely lined the walls. "I suppose they are centuries old," said Sadie in an awe-struck whisper. "There--Peter, surely now you will be able to read your fill." "Some of them are very old, I believe, and there are first editions among them," answered Isla, in a matter-of-fact tone, as if unaware that she talked of treasures which could be exchanged for gold. "You see this is quite a good room, and everyone likes the shape of it. It is so warm in winter, and so cool in summer." It was duly admired, and they made their way from it again to the dining-room. They also took a quick glance at the servants’ premises, where Sadie’s sharp eyes took in most of the details. "Now--upstairs," said Isla with evident relief. "And on the first landing, where the little door opens, just here is the dungeon-room. It has a trap-door and a stair going right down from it." Sadie’s eyes grew positively wide with excitement. "A dungeon-room," she repeated again, in an awe-stricken whisper. "And where does this stair lead to? Can anyone go down?" "Oh, yes. It leads to the dungeon, and there used to be--about the fourteenth century--a passage from it going both ways, one to Killin and down to the Earn, but it has not been opened for hundreds of years." "Do you hear that, Hylton Rosmead? The fourteenth century! Where were we then? How do you see down?" "If Mr. Rosmead will be so kind----" She stooped to pull back the faded strip of home-made carpet, and so revealed the rusty hinges set level with the floor. Rosmead stooped also and, with one swing of his strong arm, he raised the heavy door, so that they could look into the depths beneath. A curious odour met them, and Sadie, her imagination now wrought to a high pitch, fancied she heard mysterious sounds ascending from below. "I should love to go down, but we can explore later when we come to live here. Fancy a place like this right in the middle of one’s house and stairs and passages leading all over the country! It’s positively creepy, but most fascinating. And a room with a bed in it too! I wonder whether I should get any sleep in it if I took it for my own?" "It is rather small, isn’t it?" said Isla with a smile. "It was used as a sentinel’s or guard’s room chiefly in the old days, I fancy. Now, will you come up and see the bedrooms?" "I’ll take a turn outside if I may," said Rosmead. "My sister will accompany you, Miss Mackinnon. I’m perfectly satisfied with what I have seen."