The Place was an old-fashioned , mysterious house , such as I delighted in , and Mrs. Montressor was ever kind to me , albeit a little stern , for she was a proud woman and cared but little for children , having none of her own . But there were books there to pore over without let or hindrance -- for nobody questioned of my whereabouts if I but kept out of the way -- and strange , dim family portraits on the walls to gaze upon , until I knew each proud old face well , and had visioned a history for it in my own mind -- for I was given to dreaming and was older and wiser than my years , having no childish companions to keep me still a child . There were always some of my aunts at the Place to kiss and make much of me for my father 's sake -- for he had been their favourite brother . My aunts -- there were eight of them -- had all married well , so said people who knew , and lived not far away , coming home often to take tea with Mrs. Montressor , who had always gotten on well with her step-daughters , or to help prepare for some festivity or other -- for they were notable housekeepers , every one . They were all at Montressor Place for Christmas , and I got more petting than I deserved , albeit they looked after me somewhat more strictly than did Mrs. Montressor , and saw to it that I did not read too many fairy tales or sit up later at nights than became my years . But it was not for fairy tales and sugarplums nor yet for petting that I rejoiced to be at the Place at that time . Though I spoke not of it to anyone , I had a great longing to see my Uncle Hugh 's wife , concerning whom I had heard much , both good and bad . My Uncle Hugh , albeit the oldest of the family , had never married until now , and all the countryside rang with talk of his young wife . I did not hear as much as I wished , for the gossips took heed to my presence when I drew anear and turned to other matters . Yet , being somewhat keener of comprehension than they knew , I heard and understood not a little of their talk . And so I came to know that neither proud Mrs. Montressor nor my good aunts , nor even my gentle mother , looked with overmuch favour on what my Uncle Hugh had done . And I did hear that Mrs. Montressor had chosen a wife for her stepson , of good family and some beauty , but that my Uncle Hugh would have none of her -- a thing Mrs. Montressor found hard to pardon , yet might so have done had not my uncle , on his last voyage to the Indies -- for he went often in his own vessels -- married and brought home a foreign bride , of whom no one knew aught save that her beauty was a thing to dazzle the day and that she was of some strange alien blood such as ran not in the blue veins of the Montressors . Some had much to say of her pride and insolence , and wondered if Mrs. Montressor would tamely yield her mistress-ship to the stranger . But others , who were taken with her loveliness and grace , said that the tales told were born of envy and malice , and that Alicia Montressor was well worthy of her name and station . So I halted between two opinions and thought to judge for myself , but when I went to the Place my Uncle Hugh and his bride were gone for a time , and I had even to swallow my disappointment and bide their return with all my small patience . But my aunts and their stepmother talked much of Alicia , and they spoke slightingly of her , saying that she was but a light woman and that no good would come of my Uncle Hugh 's having wed her , with other things of a like nature . Also they spoke of the company she gathered around her , thinking her to have strange and unbecoming companions for a Montressor . All this I heard and pondered much over , although my good aunts supposed that such a chit as I would take no heed to their whisperings . When I was not with them , helping to whip eggs and stone raisins , and being watched to see that I ate not more than one out of five , I was surely to be found in the wing hall , poring over my book and grieving that I was no more allowed to go into the Red Room . The wing hall was a narrow one and dim , connecting the main rooms of the Place with an older wing , built in a curious way .
The hall was lighted by small , square-paned windows , and at its end a little flight XXXXX steps led up to the Red Room .
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