Then they emerged into the upper corridor answering to the corridor of the antiques below.

This also was hung with pictures, principally family portraits of the second order, dating back to the Tudors--a fine series of berobed and bejewelled personages, wherein clothes pre-dominated and character was unimportant.
Marcella's eye was glancing along the brilliant colour of the wall, taking rapid note of jewelled necks surmounting stiff embroidered dresses, of the whiteness of lace ruffs, or the love-locks and gleaming satin of the Caroline beauties, when it suddenly occurred to her,-- "I shall be their successor.

This is already potentially mine.

In a few months, if I please, I shall be walking this house as mistress--its future mistress, at any rate!" She was conscious of a quickening in the blood, a momentary blurring of the vision.

A whirlwind of fancies swept across her.