"I knew you would make a good guide, Dorothy.

Of course you have often seen the old conventual church before, Alizon ?" "I am ashamed to say I have not, your ladyship," she replied.
"Indeed!" exclaimed Lady Assheton; "and yet you have lived all your life in the village ?" "Quite true, your ladyship," answered Alizon; "but these ruins have been prohibited to me." "Not by us," said Lady Assheton; "they are open to every one." "I was forbidden to visit them by my mother," said Alizon.

And for the first time the word "mother" seemed strange to her.
Lady Assheton looked surprised, but made no remark, and mounting the steps, led the way to a spacious though not very lofty chamber, with huge uncovered rafters, and a floor of polished oak.

Over a great fireplace at one side, furnished with immense andirons, hung a noble pair of antlers, and similar trophies of the chase were affixed to other parts of the walls.

Here and there were likewise hung rusty skull-caps, breastplates, two-handed and single-handed swords, maces, halberts, and arquebusses, with chain-shirts, buff-jerkins, matchlocks, and other warlike implements, amongst which were several shields painted with the arms of the Asshetons and their alliances.