MARTHA When she opened her eyes in the morning it was because a young housemaid had come into her room to light the fire and was kneeling on the hearth-rug raking out the cinders noisily.

Mary lay and watched her for a few moments and then began to look about the room.

She had never seen a room at all like it and thought it curious and gloomy.

The walls were covered with tapestry with a forest scene embroidered on it.

There were fantastically dressed people under the trees and in the distance there was a glimpse of the turrets of a castle.