Chapter 12 REALLY VERY THRILLING
At teatime Julian spoke¹ to Mrs. Philpot about the old kitchen door. 'That's a fine old door,' he said.
'Did it come from the castle, do you suppose?'
'Yes - so it's said,' answered Mrs. Philpot. 'Great-Grand-dad here knows more about it than I do,though.'
Great-Grand-dad was not at the table. He was sitting in his enormous old chair in the window withSnippet at his feet. He was pulling contentedly² at his pipe, a cup of tea on the window-sill beside him.
'What's that?' called the old man. 'Speak up!' Julian repeated what Mrs. Philpot had said, and the oldfellow nodded.
'Oh ay! That door's from the castle all right. Made of the same oak as the beams in the barns, and thefloors of the bedrooms above! Ay, and that American fellow's been at me about it, too! Ho!
Offered me fifty pounds for it. FIFTY POUNDS! I wouldn't take a thousand. What - have that olddoor hanging in some newfangled house out in that American country, wherever it is? NO. I say NO,and I'll say it till I'm blue in the face!'
'All right, Grand-dad - don't upset yourself,' said Mrs. Philpot. She spoke to Julian in a low voice.
'Change the subject, quickly, or Grand-dad will go on and on, poor old fellow!'
Julian racked his brain for a change of subject, and fortunately remembered the hen-houses. He atonce began to tell Great-Grand-dad all they had done that afternoon, and the old fellow calmed downat once, and listened with pleasure. Snippet, who had run in fright to the twins as soon as Great-Grand-dad had begun to shout, ran back to him, and settled on his feet. Timmy also decided³ to jointhem, and soon Great-Grand-dad was completely happy again, drawing on his old pipe, with one dogat his feet, the other resting a great head on his knee. Timmy certainly did love Great-Grand-dad!
Mr. Henning did not come back that night, much to everyone's relief, but arrived next day just beforelunch, bringing with him a dried-up little fellow wearing thick glasses, whom he introduced as Mr.
Richard Durleston.
'The great Mr. Durleston!' he said proudly. 'Knows more about old houses in England than anyoneelse in the country. I'd like him to see that old door after lunch, Mrs. Philpot - and that 51queer opening in the wall of the bedroom upstairs, which was used to heat embers and bricks forwarming beds years ago.'
Fortunately Great-Grand-dad was not there to object, and after they had had dinner, Mrs. Philpot tookMr. Durleston to the old studded door. 'Ah yes,' he said. 'Quite genuine. Very fine

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