New-York tribune., 1890-03-30
] I


percd particularly hidcous drab the curtains
were mustard yellow; the carpet was duil
brown3 the notified marble nantelplecc lpr
which Ella had been intending 10 substitute one
in walnut-wOod with tiles, still shone III SLABS Oh
pctriiicd Drawn; there was huge mahogany sldc,
board of "A kind she had only seen III old-iashioncd
hotels.
Comfortable, eh ?" remarked George; lots of
wear in those curtains' :,
Inhappily there was. as Ella was only too well
aware. ~
she managed to say, without bctraylng herself
By her voice. I'll.
"Ncs. | chose everything here. lou see, Ella.
we shall only use this room for meals. .
"Only for meals, YES, she acIulcsccd WIN
shuddcr but-ticorgc, surely you said mother
had helped You with the rooms
What. your mother? ? No, Ella, her notions
are rather too grand for met was Jessie ana
Carrie meant. Just come and see what they We
made OF my den
mandcd such a cheerful outlook into one of the
pretty gardens, with pink thorn apurnl'i IN
tree or two and some sycamofcs, when SIN
flourish fresh and fair on Campdcn liIu-was "D-
scurcd now 10y some deieNtape ronlt tN"h'o III
transparent paper initiating stained glass.
&" That was the girls notion. said ''corsc, ioi-
lowing the direction of her eyes: they fixed II
all Themselves II their present TO ne.
pretty Of them 10 think Of H. wasn't it, cail
il an immense Improvement. ana Noi see Il
stuck with some patent ccncmi-yarnish. ;" IL
can't rub on You get The elect better If yon
stand hcrc-now see how well the colors come oit
in the sun"
If only they would come ont but what could
She do but stand and admire hypocriiically' Her
eyes in spite Of herself. seemed drawn 10 that
hrighi-hucd sham. intrTsectcd 10y black lines IN
tended 10 represent leading: Of the room n>rli
she only saw vaguely that it was not unworthy
Of the window
Nothing 10 what they've done with the draw
ing room, :" said innocent George. bcaming 1inc
I along darine. You'll scarcely know the plac"
And Ella reduced 80 a condition OF stony - .por.
followed 10 the drlwine-room. She ana 100 Know
the place indeed II a quantity shaped
irregular room. with French windows opening
upon the garden on one side and "a deep bow
! window on another. When she had LIST s""n
| IT, the walls were covered with paper 5" pleasing
| in tone and design that She had almost dccidcl T."
| retain IT, The paper gone. and ln is place
/ a gaudy. scmi-' hncsc pattern Of unknown hlrIH'
/ 1ying and pcrching on sprawling branches Laden
/ with impossible flowers And then the furniture
! the elegant Arwing-room suit iu brilliant
plush and shining satin. the cheap cabinets. and
the rcadv-niadc black and gilt Ovcrmanicl. win rs
uancls Of swans hawthorn blossoms and Land
! scapes skctchilv dauhcd on dead gold surely II
| had al been transferred bodily from ihc stage oi
some carclcssy mounted fnrcical comedy
| Elias horrlfcd gaze gradually took IN other
features: the China monkeys swineine on cords.
the porcelain parrots hanging in great brass rngs
| huge lnisshapcn tcrra-coita Jars and pots dead
| grass i'm bloaicd drain pipes. tambourncs be
ribhoncG and painted with kittens and I"nins.
enormous wooden sahois, Sildcd lana"rs' i'ii7. a
woolly white rns and b"sh' Nl""eri'iHS''i
carpet ,a...,.n,,ri,,. tror, ,or lins
81 knew you'd be- pleased. he sni; com
! placcntlv: "but ! muslt take all the cicdt my
self II like tins. sou Sc. fell aH Hght
about the other rooms. but the dmwine, ,rooni.
that's your room. and was awiully AFRAID 81 n't
| having il exactly as il ought 10 H.. :" ! went T."
The girls and said. You know all about the .
| thinrs-usi make il what You think IN, VIII
Ike. and then can't 90 wrong. We haI u"t
! Grosycnor Gallery paper down first OF all. 'hnosc
| some.hing bright and cheerful | said. ana !
| don't think they've chosen badly. lhen me
pottery and china and all that-those are the girls
fLatr ius. lpNH
It's very good Of then, said poor ila' on
the verge OF tears.
"Oh. they think a lot Of YOU! They were
rather nervous aboni doing 'nyihlng Ht hfs', LOT
fear Won miehtn't like it; hnt ! told them they
needn't be- afraid. What like, Ella VIII Ike.
| said and must say no one could wish ~ sec a
prcticr drawing room Than t.'N y" tnrurn % Inv"
Ella stood there in a kind ot drcarN dream.
What had happened 10 the world since she ch"c
into this housc What was this change in her ?
She was afraid 10 speak lest the intense rebellion,
anger she felt should gain the mastery. Was II
she that had these wicked thoughts "i ',cofsc-
poor kind. unsuspcctinr loving 'coiHr Nhr
iclt little faint. for the windows were closed
and the room siuflv with the odor Of the new
furniture and the atmosphere OF the workshop
everything here seemed Ia her commonplace ana
rcpulsivc
How about those plans of yours now, Ella
ch - cried George.
This was too much-hcr ovcr-ricd patience
broke down.
"Gcorec," she cried impulsiycly, and her voice
sounded hoarsc and strange 10 her own ear
-Gcorgc, | must speak must tell you--' and
then she checked herself
She must keep command of herself, or she could
rot. without utter loss of dignity, hnd the words
that were to sting him INTO sense 81 wnat h'
had done and allowed 10 bc done. Eciorc ss''
could 20 on George had drawn her 10 HIM, anc
was patting her shoulder iendcrly.
:" know, dear little girl, hc said. know
don't try to tell me anything. I'm 50 awfnly glac
you're pleased; but all the money and pains III th'
world wouldn't make the place good enough foI
my Ella.'
She released herself with little cry Of mpocnt
, despair. How could she say tho sharp. cruc
speeches that were struggling to reach her tongue
now? II was no usr; she was coward she
simply had not the courage 10 nndccclvc HIM her"
on the very first day of the reunion. too.
You haven't been upstairs yet. said "corgc
dropping sentiment abruptly Shall we 60 up p !?
cost her but il was better. she reflected. 10 get i
over and know the very worst However slAf was
; spared this ordeal for the present. As they re-
trrned 70 fine hall they found themselves suddcnl,
face to face with dingy man. whose face wa,
: surrounded by fringe Of black whiskcrs an'
y crowned by shock Of iiucy hair
! y Who on earth are You ~ demanded George
: as the man rose from the kitchen stairs.
/. No offence sir and lady. Pcarnm. that's my
name fust shop round the corner you go int,
, Silver-st, plumber and sauitry henginrcr. gas
Gttin and hartistic decorating, bcll-angng in al
: IFS branches | received instructions from Mr.
.Joucs that | was 10 look into little matter o
leakage in the back kitchen sink. also 20 wha
taps if hany. required sccin' 10. and gen lily 10 pm
\ ! things straight Ike 10 | come IOnHd HNlDg I'M
- KEYS Just 10 east hcyc over them. rs nay tern
7 IT, prclminry 10 beginning work in the course OF
. | week so. I'm at libity TO attend to i
| pussonally."
oh the landlord sent you? All right then
J. "Correct sir said the plumber. afIably: Will
: | I've been 'erc took the freedom Of going all owe
this little Ouse. and nice cosy LITTLE 'ouse Vou' "
+ made of it, for such mouse as il is You've dom
II il up very tysty. very tysty you've done this litl
o 'ouse up. and I've some claim To speak, sccIh Il
how I've had the decoration throughout of a man,
ouse in my time likewise mansions. You ain
. been too ambitious, which is the error most Dartc