File:The country of The ring and the book (1913) (14783787365).jpg

Identifier: countryofringb00trev (find matches)
Title: The country of The ring and the book
Year: 1913 (1910s)
Authors: Treves, Frederick, Sir, 1853-1923
Subjects: Browning, Robert, 1812-1889
Publisher: London : Cassell
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto

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reach (Plate 95). By the side of the fireplace is a much-worn stonestair that no one would dispute has seen little changefor the last two hundred years and more. Its balustradeis made of upright blocks of stone connected at thetop by an iron rail. After some ten steps a windowis reached, and here the stair turns to the right andmounts upwards through a stone passage with a vaultedroof. The passage recalls the narrow stair made in thethickness of the wall of a mediaeval castle. This is theonly staircase in the house. Up these stone steps Pom-pilia was helped to her room, or possibly, as the poemsays, was carried there in the arms of Caponsacchi. Itwas up this very stair that Guido rushed to denouncehis wife, followed by the stumbling yokels who repre-sented the law. Now, if at no time before, are we in intimate touchwith the story. It is easy to picture this very room in theearly hours of that eventful morning. The room is still;the lamp on the mantelpiece has almost flickered out; 220
Text Appearing After Image:
83.—A STREET IN NARNI. Castelnuovo over a bench is thrown Pompilias cloak ; at the footof the stair stands Caponsacchi listening eagerly for anysound of movement in the room above, while at thesame time he watches the faint light of the dawngrow in the window on the stair. He starts at asound that comes in through the open door, the soundof footsteps in the road. He rushes out through thearchway and meets Count Guido face to face. From the common room of the inn a passage leadsto the old dining-room, which possesses a cove ceilingvery crudely painted. Near by is the kitchen, which isso archaic as to remind one of the kitchens in Pompeii,for the stove is of stone. The kitchen, although small,is evidently capable of providing for many, while thebaking oven is of untoward size. There are otherrooms on the ground floor, one of which has a roundedroof; all have enormously thick walls ; all are empty ;in one place is a cupboard hollowed out of the verysubstance of the wall. The windows lo

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