Would they show me - the dining room?
Man and woman turned upon their heels, and I followed. The entrance
led into a filthy kitchen; out of this I turned to the right, went
along a passage upon which opened certain chamber doors, and was
conducted into a room at the end - for the nonce, a dining-room,
but at ordinary times a bedroom. Evidently the kitchen served for
native guests; as a foreigner I was treated with more ceremony. Left
alone till my meal should be ready, I examined the surroundings. The
floor was of worn stone, which looked to me like the natural
foundation of the house; the walls were rudely plastered, cracked,
grimed, and with many a deep chink; as for the window, it admitted
light, but, owing to the aged dirt which had gathered upon it,
refused any view of things without save in two or three places where
the glass was broken; by these apertures, and at every point of the
framework, entered a sharp wind. In one corner stood an iron
bedstead, with mattress and bedding in a great roll upon it; a shaky
deal table and primitive chair completed the furniture. Ornament did
not wholly lack; round the walls hung a number of those coloured
political caricatures (several indecent) which are published by some
Italian newspapers, and a large advertisement of a line of emigrant
ships between Naples and New York. Moreover, there was suspended in
a corner a large wooden crucifix, very quaint, very hideous, and
black with grime.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 121 of 152
Words from 31879 to 32145
of 40398
