On the left hand of the hall was a door which I had not noticed before, but which was now open.

There was a light within, and I saw a prettily-furnished parlor.

There was a table with a lamp on it, and by the table sat the lady, Mrs.Chester.I involuntarily stopped, and, looking up, she invited me to come in.

Instantly I accepted the invitation, but with a sort of an apology for the intrusion.
"Oh, this is the public parlor," she said, "although everything about this house seems private at present.

We generally have families staying with us in the summer, but last week nearly all of them went away to the sea-shore.