As the door
opened, Lady Annabel glanced round; her countenance was agitated; she
folded up the newspaper rather hastily, and gave it to the Doctor.
'And what have you been doing, little folks?' inquired the Doctor of
the new comers.
'We have been playing at the history of Rome,' said Venetia, 'and now
that we have conquered every place, we do not know what to do.'
'The usual result of conquest,' said the Doctor, smiling.
'This snowstorm is a great trial for you; I begin to believe that,
after all, you would be more pleased to take your holidays at another
opportunity.'
'We could amuse ourselves very well,' said Plantagenet, 'if Lady
Annabel would be so kind as to permit us to explore the part of the
house that is shut up.'
'That would be a strange mode of diversion,' said Lady Annabel,
quietly, 'and I do not think by any means a suitable one. There cannot
be much amusement in roaming over a number of dusty unfurnished
rooms.'
'And so nicely dressed as you are too!' said Mrs. Cadurcis, rousing
herself: 'I wonder how such an idea could enter your head!'
'It snows harder than ever,' said Venetia; 'I think, after all, I
shall learn my French vocabulary.'
'If it snows to-morrow,' said Plantagenet, 'we will do our lessons as
usual.
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