This was not very consistent with her inviting me to stay all night, and confirms my suspicion that she had made a request to that purport of Mr. Elder, for otherwise, surely, she would have sent me home. ‘Oh! never mind me, Mrs Wilson,’ I said. ‘If you will let me wander about the place, I shall be perfectly comfortable.’ ‘Yes; but you might get in the way of the family, or the visitors,’ she said. ‘I’ll take good care of that,’ I returned. ‘Surely there is room in this huge place without running against any one.’ ‘There ought to be,’ she answered. After a few minutes’ silence, she resumed. ‘We shall have a good many of them staying all night’, but there will be room for you, I dare say. What would you like to do with yourself till they begin to come?’ ‘I should like to go to the library,’ I answered, thinking, I confess, of the adjacent armoury as well. ‘Should I be in the way there?’ ‘No; I don’t think you would,’ she replied, thoughtfully. ‘It’s not often any one goes there.’ ‘Who takes charge of the books?’ I asked. ‘Oh! books don’t want much taking care of,’ she replied. ‘I have thought of having them down and dusting the place out, but it would be such a job! and the dust don’t signify upon old books. They ain’t of much count in this house. Nobody heeds them.’ ‘I wish Sir Giles would let me come and put them in order in the holidays,’ I said, little knowing how altogether unfit I yet was for such an undertaking. ‘Ah well! we’ll see. Who knows?’ ‘You don’t think he would!’ I exclaimed. ‘I don’t know. Perhaps he might. But I thought you were going abroad soon.’ I had not said anything to her on the subject. I had never had an opportunity. ‘Who told you that, Mrs Wilson?’ ‘Never you mind. A little bird. Now you had better go to the library. I dare say you won’t hurt anything, for Sir Giles, although he never looks at the books, would be dreadfully angry if he thought anything were happening to them.’ ‘I’ll take as good care of them as if they were my uncle’s. He used to let me handle his as much as I liked. I used to mend them up for him. I’m quite accustomed to books, I assure you, Mrs Wilson.’ ‘Come, then; I will show you the way,’ she said. ‘I think I know the way,’ I answered. For I had pondered so much over the place, and had, I presume, filled so many gaps of recollection with creations of fancy, that I quite believed I knew my way all about the house. ‘We shall see,’ she returned with a smile. ‘I will take you the nearest way, and you shall tell me on your honour if you remember it.’