You ascended the principal staircase to reach
it through a long corridor. It occupied the whole length of
one of the wings; was one hundred feet long, and forty-five
feet broad, its walls hung with a collection of choice
pictures rich in history; while the Axminster carpets, the
cabinets, carved tables, and variety of easy chairs,
ingeniously grouped, imparted even to this palatian chamber a
lively and habitable air.
Lord Marney was several years the senior of Charles Egremont,
yet still a young man. He was handsome; there was indeed a
general resemblance between the brothers, though the
expression of their countenances was entirely different; of
the same height and air, and throughout the features a certain
family cast; but here the likeness ceased. The countenance of
Lord Marney bespoke the character of his mind; cynical, devoid
of sentiment, arrogant, literal, hard. He had no imagination,
had exhausted his slight native feeling, but he was acute,
disputatious, and firm even to obstinacy. Though his early
education had been very imperfect, he had subsequently read a
good deal, especially in French literature. He had formed his
mind by Helvetius, whose system he deemed irrefutable, and in
whom alone he had faith.
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