Verily, to my thinking, there's as much timber burnt
there daily as ye would pile here for a winter's use."
"Prithee come with me into the kitchen, we may have better quarters
peradventure among the fleshpots," said Oliver, leading the stranger
through a small doorway on the left. This _coquinus_ of our ancestors
was usually placed near the hall, for the convenience of serving. Here,
through a sliding aperture in the panel, the victuals were transferred
with safety and despatch. It was built entirely of stone, having a
conical roof with a turret at the top for the escape of steam and smoke.
A fire was still burning, provided with a large cauldron suspended on a
sort of versatile gibbet, by which contrivance it could be withdrawn
from the flame. Fire-rakes and fire-jacks were laid on the hearth, and
around the walls were iron pots, trivets, pans, kettles, ladles,
platters, and other implements of domestic economy. Huge dressers
displayed symptoms of preparation for to-morrow's necessities, and a
coarse kitchen-wench was piling fuel on the ever-burning fire.
The envoy, glad to be ensconced so near the blaze, quickly addressed
himself to the task of improving it by a dexterous use of a huge faggot
by way of poker.
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