'
After passing a scullery, a root-house, and a spacious entrance-hall, upon
a table in which stood the perpetual beer-jug and bread-basket, a green
baize door let them into the regions of upper service, and passing the
dashed carpets of the housekeeper's room and butler's pantry, a red baize
door let them into the far-side of the front entrance. Having deposited
their hats and whips, they bounded up the richly carpeted staircase to
their rooms.
Hanby House, as we have already said, was splendidly furnished. All the
grandeur did not run to the entertaining rooms; but each particular
apartment, from the state bedroom down to the smallest bachelor snuggery,
was replete with elegance and comfort.
Like many houses, however, the bedrooms possessed every imaginable luxury
except boot-jacks and pens that would write. In Sponge's room for instance,
there were hip-baths, and foot-baths, a shower-bath, and hot and cold baths
adjoining, and mirrors innumerable; an eight-day mantel-clock, by Moline of
Geneva, that struck the hours, half-hours, and quarters: cut-glass toilet
candlesticks, with silver sconces; an elegant zebra-wood cabinet; also a
beautiful davenport of zebra-wood, with a plate-glass back, containing a
pen rug worked on silver ground, an ebony match box, a blue crystal,
containing a sponge pen-wiper, a beautiful envelope-case, a white-cornelian
seal, with 'Hanby House' upon it, wax of all colours, papers of all
textures, envelopes without end--every imaginable requirement of
correspondence except a pen that would write.
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