Thereat he wondered.
But the truth is, it was a house wherein precision reigned: a tuner and a
clockmaker visited by contract every month.
This, and two more guest-chambers, and the great dining-hall, were built
under the Plantagenets, when all large landowners entertained kings and
princes with their retinues. As to that part of the house which was built
under the Tudors, there are hundreds of country houses as important, only
Mr. Severne had not been inside them, and was hardly aware to what
perfection rational luxury is brought in the houses of our large landed
gentry. He sat down in an antique chair of enormous size; the back went
higher than his head, the seat ran out as far as his ankle, when seated;
there was room in it for two, and it was stuffed--ye gods, how it was
stuffed! The sides, the back, and the seat were all hair mattresses, a
foot thick at least. Here nestled our sybarite; with the sun shining
through leaves, and splashing his beautiful head with golden tints and
transparent shadows, and felt in the temple of comfort, and incapable of
leaving it alive.
He went down to luncheon. It was distinguishable from dinner in this,
that they all got up after it, and Zoe said, "Come with me, children.
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