CHAPTER XIX
THE ROSE PLAY-HOUSE

HE play-house was an eight-sided, three-storied, tower-
like building of oak and plastered lath, upon a low
foundation of yellow brick. Two outside stairways ran
around the wall, and the roof was of bright-red English
tiles with a blue lead gutter at the eaves. There was a
little turret, from the top of which a tall ash stave went
up; and on the stave, whenever there was to be a play,
there floated a great white flag on which was a crimson
rose with a golden heart, just like the one that Nick with
such delight had seen come up the Oxford road a few
short days before.

Under the stairway was a narrow door marked “ For the
Playeres Onelie”; and in the doorway stood a shrewd-
faced, common-looking man, writing upon a tablet which
he held in his hand. There was a case of quills at his
side, with one of which he was scratching busily, now and
then prodding the ink-horn at his girdle. He held his
tongue in his cheek, and moved his head about as the pen

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