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HYLAND 'Oh yes, I want you to know all about it, and there isn't much more— no more about the room. 'Mother never got well, and she died that autumn. She used often to sigh, and say, with a wan little laugh, "There is one thing I am glad of, Margaret: your father knows now all about the little room." I think she was afraid I distrusted her. Of course, in a child's way, I thought there was something queer about it, but I did not brood over it. I was too young then, and took it as a part of her illness. But, Roger, do you know, it really did affect me. I almost hate to go there after talking about it; I somehow feel as if it might, you know, be a china-closet again.' 'That's an absurd idea.' 'I know it; of course it can't be. I saw the room, and there isn't any china-closet there, and no gilt-edged china in the house, either.' And then she whispered: 'But, Roger, you may hold my hand as you do now, if you will, when we go to look for the little room.' 'And you won't mind Aunt Hannah's gray eyes?' 'I won't mind anything.' It was dusk when Mr. and Mrs. Grant went into the gate under the two old Lombardy poplars and walked up the narrow path to the door, where they were met by the two aunts. Hannah gave Mrs.Grant a frigid but not unfriendly kiss; and Maria seemed for a moment to tremble onthe verge of anemotion, but she glanced at Hannah, and then gave her greeting in exactly the same repressed and non-committal way.