"He goes out waiting," she said stiffly.
"He was a gentleman's servant, sir.

He could, of course, valet you should you require him to do so." And then she turned and led the way up the steep, narrow staircase.
At the top of the first flight of stairs was what Mrs.Bunting, to herself, called the drawing-room floor.

It consisted of a sitting-room in front, and a bedroom behind.

She opened the door of the sitting-room and quickly lit the chandelier.
This front room was pleasant enough, though perhaps a little over-encumbered with furniture.

Covering the floor was a green carpet simulating moss; four chairs were placed round the table which occupied the exact middle of the apartment, and in the corner, opposite the door giving on to the landing, was a roomy, old-fashioned chiffonnier.
On the dark-green walls hung a series of eight engravings, portraits of early Victorian belles, clad in lace and tarletan ball dresses, clipped from an old Book of Beauty.