Your great-uncle, who died a year ago, spent more than fifty thousand pounds on repairing and refurbishing it, they say.

He built the big drawing-room there, where the stone is a little lighter; it is fifty-five feet long.

Just think, fifty thousand pounds!" "It is a large sum," said Owen, in an unimaginative sort of way, while in his heart he wondered what on earth he should do with this white elephant of a mediaeval castle, and its drawing room fifty-five feet long.
"He does not seem much impressed," thought Beatrice to herself, as she tugged away at the postern bell; "I think he must be stupid.

He looks stupid." Presently the door was opened by an active-looking little old woman with a high voice.
"Mrs.Thomas," thought Owen to himself; "she is even worse than I expected." "Now you must please to go away," began the formidable housekeeper in her shrillest key; "it is too late to show visitors over.

Why, bless us, it's you, Miss Beatrice, with a strange man! What do you want ?" Beatrice looked at her companion as a hint that he should explain himself, but he said nothing.
"This is your new squire," she said, not without a certain pride.