magnificent collection of sheathed rapiers which adorned the walls of the long corridor through which they next passed. Lady Frederica hurried her along, remarking that she would have plenty of time for studying all “those tiresome old historic treasures” by-and-by. “The castle is simply full of them,” she said. “All the Lisles have been collectors; it is one of their many irritating ways. I hope you haven’t any hobby, my dear?” “Hobby” was a new word in Sydney’s vocabulary, and she hardly knew how to answer the question. But a reply was the one thing Lady Frederica never wanted, and she went on talking in her clear, high-bred, rather monotonous voice until they reached the first of Sydney’s rooms. “They all open from one another,” she said, as the girl looked round with dazzled eyes.[43] “You like them? That’s right. St. Quentin told me to get everything you would require. Your bedroom is the innermost, you see. Then comes your morning-room, where you can do what you like without risk of being interfered with. And this last is your school-room—yours, too; till you share it with a governess. How old are you, by the way?” [43] “I shall be eighteen on the thirty-first of December,” Sydney answered. “Well, perhaps I shall let you off regular lessons,” Lady Frederica said; “but you must have masters for accomplishments. I shall tell St. Quentin so. I don’t suppose you learnt much with that doctor—what was his name?—Chichester? Gracious, child, how white you are! I hope you are not going to be delicate! One invalid in the castle is quite enough—especially one with a temper like St. Quentin’s. I’ll send your maid to you, and you had better rest a little before dressing for dinner. We dine at eight. Au revoir, my dear!” And Lady Frederica flitted away, leaving Sydney in her new domain. She took off her coat, hat, and gloves, and put them tidily away, then knelt down by the bright fire blazing in the dainty tiled grate of her bedroom and looked round it. [44] [44] It was certainly a contrast from the little bare room she and Dolly shared at home, where there was no space for anything that was not strictly needful. This room was more like a drawing-room than a bedroom, Sydney thought.
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