"I hope the housemaid's put enough on your bed, and given you a hot water-bottle?
If anything scares you in the night, wake me--that is, if you can!" She disappeared.
Outside Mrs.Friend's door the old house was in darkness, save for a single light in the hall, which burnt all night.

The hall was the feature of the house.

A gallery ran round it supported by columns from below, and spaced by answering columns which carried the roof.

The bedrooms ran round the hall, and opened into the gallery.

The columns were of yellow marble brought from Italy, and faded blue curtains hung between them.
Helena went cautiously to the balustrade, drew one of the blue curtains round her, and looked down into the hall.