in
order. The outside, as I said, gave promise of nothing remarkable;
Dolly had been the more surprised and pleased to find the interior
extremely pleasant and not commonplace. Rooms were large and airy;
picturesquely arranged; and furnished, at least in part, in a style for
which she had not been at all prepared. The house had been for a long
stretch of years in the possession of a family, not wealthy, but well
to do, and cultivated; and furthermore, several of the members of it at
different times had been seafaring; and, as happens in such cases,
there had been brought home from foreign parts a small multitude of
objects of art or convenience which bore witness to distant industries
and fashions. India mats of fine quality were on some of the floors;
India hangings at some of the windows; beautiful china was found to be
in quantity, both of useful and ornamental kinds. Little lacquered
tables; others of curious inlaid work; bamboo chairs; Chinese screens
and fans; and I know not what all besides. Dolly and Mrs. Eberstein
reviewed these articles with great interest and admiration; they gave
the house, simple as it was, an air of elegance which its exterior
quite forbade one to look for. At the same time, some other necessary
things were wanting, or worn. The carpet in what Dolly called the
drawing-room was one of these instances. It was very much the worse for
wear. Dolly and her aunt went carefully over everything; adjusting,
supplying, arranging, here and there; Dolly getting a number of small
presents by the way, and a few that were not small. At last Mr.
Eberstein sent in a fine carpet for the drawing-room; and Dolly would
not have it put down.

"Not till Mr. Shubrick comes," she said.

"Why not, my dear? this is threadbare," her aunt pleaded.

"Aunt Hal, I should not like to give the room a strange look. He may
have associations with this old carpet, for anything I know."

"Men do not have 'associations' with things," said Mrs. Eberstein.

"Some men do, and perhaps he is one of them. At any rate, I want the
house to look like home to him when he comes. I'll put down the carpet
afterwards, if he likes it."

"I am afraid you are going to spoil him, Dolly," said Mrs. Eberstein,
shaking her head. "I hope he is worthy of it all. But don't spoil him!"

"He is much more likely to spoil me, Aunt Hal."

"Spoil _you!_" exclaimed her aunt indignantly. "What do you know about
it? O Dolly, Dolly! I hope you have got t