of the building was crowned with a considerable pediment of
what seemed at the first glance fanciful open work, but which
examined more nearly offered in gigantic letters the motto of
the house of Marney. The portal opened to a hall, such as is
now rarely found; with the dais, the screen, the gallery, and
the buttery-hatch all perfect, and all of carved black oak.
Modern luxury, and the refined taste of the lady of the late
lord, had made Marney Abbey as remarkable for its comfort and
pleasantness of accommodation as for its ancient state and
splendour. The apartments were in general furnished with all
the cheerful ease and brilliancy of the modern mansion of a
noble, but the grand gallery of the seventeenth century was
still preserved, and was used on great occasions as the chief
reception-room. You ascended the principal staircase to reach
it through a long corridor. It occupied the whole length of
one of the wings; was one hundred feet long, and forty-five
feet broad, its walls hung with a collection of choice
pictures rich in history; while the Axminster carpets, the
cabinets, carved tables, and variety of easy chairs,
ingeniously grouped, imparted even to this palatian chamber a
lively and habitable air.

Lord Marney was several years the senior of Charles Egremont,
yet still a young man. He was handsome; there was indeed a
general resemblance between the brothers, though the
expression of their countenances was entirely different; of
the same height and air, and throughout the features a certain
family cast; but here the likeness ceased. The countenance of
Lord Marney bespoke the character of his mind; cynical, devoid
of sentiment, arrogant, literal, hard. He had no imagination,