By degrees the carpet had disappeared, which had been laid down some nine or ten years since, when they had first come to Hogglestock, and which even then had not been new.

Now nothing but a poor fragment of it remained in front of the fire-place.

In the middle of the room there was a table which had once been large; but one flap of it was gone altogether, and the other flap sloped grievously towards the floor, the weakness of old age having fallen into its legs.

There were two or three smaller tables about, but they stood propped against walls, thence obtaining a security which their own strength would not give them.

At the further end of the room there was an ancient piece of furniture, which was always called "papa's secretary," at which Mr.Crawley customarily sat and wrote his sermons, and did all work that was done by him within his house.