The receptacle containing these precious relics was a very large, heavily carved oak chest, standing in the Master's room.

This chest was iron-bound, triple-locked, and required four strong men to lift it, and the family traditions asserted it had stood in its present place for three hundred and forty years.

It was the palladium of Hatton Hall and was regarded with great honor and affection.
After this event there were no more attempts at festivity.

The clouds gathered quickly and a silent gloom settled over all the cotton-spinning and weaving districts of England.

But I shall only touch this subject as it refers to the lives and characters of my story.