Greyson into a handsome hall. They
were told where to hang their hats, and a moment afterwards were
ushered into a comfortable dining-room, where a table was spread
for dinner.
Dick took his seat on the edge of a sofa, and was tempted to rub his
eyes to make sure that he was really awake. He could hardly believe
that he was a guest in so fine a mansion.
Ida helped to put the boys at their ease.
"Do you like pictures?" she asked.
"Very much," answered Henry.
The little girl brought a book of handsome engravings, and, seating
herself beside Dick, to whom she seemed to have taken a decided
fancy, commenced showing them to him.
"There are the Pyramids of Egypt," she said, pointing to one engraving.
"What are they for?" asked Dick, puzzled. "I don't see any winders."
"No," said Ida, "I don't believe anybody lives there. Do they, papa?"
"No, my dear. They were used for the burial of the dead. The largest
of them is said to be the loftiest building in the world with one
exception. The spire of the Cathedral of Strasburg is twenty-four
feet higher, if I remember rightly."
"Is Egypt near here?" asked Dick.
"Oh, no, it's ever so many miles off; about four or five hundred.
Didn't you know?"
"No," said Dick. "I never heard."
"You don't appear to be very accurate in your information, Ida,"
said her mother. "Four or five thousand miles would be considerably
nearer the truth.
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