Two of the warder's men already held their horses, while two other men, responsive to the warder's whistle, came running from the hall and helped them to dismount.

Hardly had they reached the ground ere a man-servant came, who led the way to the left towards a porch of carved stone on the same side of the court.

The door stood open, revealing a flight of stairs, rather steep, but wide and stately, going right up between two straight walls.

At the top stood lady Margaret's gentleman usher, Mr.Harcourt by name, who received them with much courtesy, and conducting them to a small room on the left of the landing, went to announce their arrival to lady Margaret, to whose private parlour this was the antechamber.

Returning in a moment, he led them into her presence.
She received them with a frankness which almost belied the stateliness of her demeanour.