The ingle, to be comfortable and useful, should not be less than 10 ft. 6 ins. in width by 4 ft. 6 ins. in depth. If it is smaller lengthways the heat from the fire will be too great, while if less deep there will be insufficient accommodation at the sides for two persons without projecting the seats into the room, which can only be satisfactorily done, perhaps, when the side of the ingle is in line with that of the room. A reasonable height is 6 ft. 6 ins. A pleasing way of treating a cottage ingle is to introduce a step up of about 3 ins., with an oak curb, and to tile or quarry the whole recess, as illustrated by the accompanying drawing. This ingle, which is provided in the pair of cottages with the large living-rooms dealt with earlier (Plate XX.), is constructed as follows:-¾ in. match-boarding is nailed to studding, which has stout angle-posts to support the beam above; along the side of the latter a 7-in. by 1-in. shelf is carried by small wooden brackets; and the wood seats are of 1¼ ins. in thickness by 1 ft. 4 ins. from back to front, at a height of 1 ft. 3 ins. or less from the floor. The introduction of the ingle here is advantageous because some privacy is thus afforded in a room which is entered directly from the road. The match-boarding in this case is continued, and forms a framework for the tile-surround of the grate, giving an appearance of unity to the nook, while the simplicity of the material is pleasing and restful. The insertion of a mantelpiece different in character should be avoided. Some interest may be given to the centre of the fireplace by inlaying a little ebony in simple forms. For drawing-rooms of larger houses the back of the nook might be panelled, the seat upholstered, and the panels filled in with tapestry. White wood looks well, and the fireplace might be built up with glazed brickettes. The ways of treating the more expensive ingles are so numerous, however, that it would be of little use making definite suggestions. The ingle nook of one of the larger cottages is illustrated on Plate LI.