This is where you’ll see most of the group activities. Because of that, the furnishings are moved around quite often, as specific situations require. When the raised side room is being utilized as a stage, the heavy wooden rectangular desk and the hardwood octagonal table, the floor candle holders, and all the other objects that one finds in here, all are pushed aside nearest the walls to make room for people to sit, on seemingly every available flat surface in which one may perch. And then the very next day, there will be a council meeting or some other adult meeting which requires every flat surface upon which to lay out maps, and write notes, and read books. This is a very informal, oft-used space.

You will note that overhead there is an electrical light, as well as another desklamp on the far side of Father’s desk. As much as Father dislikes taking from the world Above, he too has made his concessions; the illumination in this room is brighter than most everywhere else. He will likely argue that it is for the good of everyone, and not just because small print makes him squint a bit more in recent years.

Nearly all the walls, side tables, nooks in the wall, any flat surface available is overrun with books stacked flat one on top of each other throughout this area. An antique hutch and display case rest very near the entryway, statues, busts, and yet more books competing for space upon it. More busts, astronomical devices, world globes, and other items denoting a classical, rather scientific education add to the clutter, and yet seem to fit the general motif.