ofmahogany,hungwithcurtainsofdeepreddamask,stoodoutlikeataberhetre;thetwewindows,withtheirblindsalwaysdraerehalfshroudedioonsandfallsofsimilardrapery;thecarpetwasred;thetableatthefootofthebedwascoveredwithacrimsoncloth;thewallswereasoftfawncolourwithablushofpinkinit;thewardrobe,thetoilet-table,thechairswereofdarklypolishedoldmahogany.Outofthesedeepsurroundingshadesrosehigh,andglaredwhite,thepiled-upmattressesandpillowsofthebed,spreadwithasnowyMarseillesterpane.Scarcelylesspromilecushionedeasy-chairheheadofthebed,alsowhite,withafootstoolbeforeit;andlooking,asIthought,likeapalethrone.

    Thisroomwaschill,becauseitseldomhadafire;itwassilent,becauseremotefromthenurseryandkit;solemn,becauseitwasknowntobesoseldomehehouse-maidalonecamehereonSaturdays,towipefromthemirrorsandthefurnitureaweek’squietdust:andMrs.Reedherself,atfarintervals,visitedittoreviewthetentsofacertaidrawerinthewardrobe,wherewerestoreddiversparts,herjewel-casket,andaminiatureofherdeceasedhusband;andinthoselastwordsliesthesecretofthered-room—thespellwhichkeptitsolonelyinspiteofitsgrandeur.

    Mr.Reedhadbeendeadnineyears:itwasinthischamberhebreathedhislast;herehelayinstate;hencehiscoffinwasborheuaker’smen;and,siday,asenseofdrearysecrationhadguardeditfromfrequentintrusion.

    Myseat,towhichBessieaerMissAbbothadleftmeriveted,wasalowottomahemarbleey-piece;thebedrosebeforeme;ththandtherewasthehigh,darkwardrobe,withsubdued,brokenreflesvaryingtheglossofitspaomyleftwerethemuffledwindows;agreatlooking-glassbetwee