The white counterpane on the bed showed
like a blank page.
Amanda crossed the room, opened with a straining motion of her thin
back and shoulders one of the west windows, and threw back the
blind. Then the room revealed itself an apartment full of an aged
and worn but no less valid state. Pieces of old mahogany swelled
forth; a peacock-patterned chintz draped the bedstead. This chintz
also covered a great easy chair which had been the favourite seat
of the former occupant of the room. The closet door stood ajar.
Amanda noticed that with wonder. There was a glimpse of purple
drapery floating from a peg inside the closet. Amanda went across
and took down the garment hanging there. She wondered how her
sister had happened to leave it when she cleaned the room. It was
an old loose gown which had belonged to her aunt. She took it
down, shuddering, and closed the closet door after a fearful glance
into its dark depths. It was a long closet with a strong odour of
lovage. The Aunt Harriet had had a habit of eating lovage and had
carried it constantly in her pocket. There was very likely some of
the pleasant root in the pocket of the musty purple gown which
Amanda threw over the easy chair.
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