A wavering pencil-mark had scored the page here and there.

Dare shut it up, and replaced it among its brethren.

How _triste_ and silent the house seemed! He wondered what the old uncle had been like, and sauntered into the staircase hall, much in need of varnish, where the Dares that had gone before him lived.

But these were too ancient to have his predecessor among them.

He went into the long oak-panelled dining-room, where above the high carved dado were more Dares.