! 70 WINTER SKE TCHES. 



theless, there are items to be gathered on the 

 spot, brought down by tradition, seasoned per- 

 haps with romance, but having for their stock 

 the meat of truth. 



After dinner, my obliging host accompanied 

 me to the historic house, where we were po- 

 litely received by Mr. and Mrs. Weiant, the 

 present occupants. It cannot be agreeable to 

 the privacy of family life to dwell in a *' show 

 place." No one would care to live in Shaks- 

 pere's home, or at Mount Vernon, if they could 

 be had house-rent free. But these kind people 

 declare that they are not disturbed by their 

 frequent visitors, who are always made wel- 

 come to explore the premises. 



The house was built 140 years ago. It is 

 one of those old-fashioned structures whose 

 builders studied architectural comfort rather 

 than architectural monstrosities of '' kitty-cor- 

 nered " roofs, mediaeval turrets, and all sorts of 

 composite irregularities that are laid to the 

 charge of good Queen Anne. On each side of 

 the wide hall, with its ample staircase, are two 

 large square rooms, duplicated by similar 

 chambers overhead. The first chamber in the 

 south-east corner is the one where Arnold and 

 Andr^ were closeted and where the plans of 



