The Old House (4)

The Old House (4)

The old servant smiled and nodded and took the little package, with the tin soldier inside it, to his master.

Later that day a message arrived, inviting the boy to come and visit the old man.

The child's parents gave their permission; and thus he finally entered the old house.

The brass knobs on the iron railing seemed to shaine so brightly that one might believe that they had been newly polished in honour of the boy's visit.

The little carved trumpeters in the oak doorway seemed to be blowing especially hard on their instruments, for their cheeks were all puffed up.

It was a fanfare !
" Tra... tra.. trattalala ! The boy is coming !  Tra,,, tra... trattalala ! "

The door was opened and he stood in the hall.

All the walls were covered with paintings portraying ladies in long silk gowns and knights in armour.

The boy thought that he could hear the silk gowns rustle and the armour clang.

Then there were the stairs; first they went up a goodish way, and then down a little bit, and ended in a balcony.

It was wooden and a bit rickety, grass and weeds grew out of every crack, making it look more like a garden than a balcony.

(4/20)