overing about a
spot so religiously guarded? Yet what should we see if its doors were
thrown open? A study surrounded with books it displeases him to see
misplaced, or a luxurious apartment fitted with every appointment
necessary to rest and comfort him when he comes home tired from
business."

* * * * *

"I never saw Mr. Sylvester angry till to-day. By some inadvertence he
went down town without locking the door of his private room, and though
he returned immediately upon missing the key from his pocket, he was
barely in time to prevent Cousin Ona from invading the spot he has
always kept so sacred from intrusion. I was not present and of course
did not hear what was said, but I caught a glimpse of his face as he
left the house, and found it quite sufficient to assure me of his
dissatisfaction. As for Ona, she declares he pulled her back as if she
had been daring the plague. 'I do not expect to find five beautiful
wives hanging up there by their necks,' concluded she with a forced
laugh, 'but I shall yet see the interior of that room, if only to
establish my prerogative as the mistress of this house.'

"I do not now feel as if I wished to see it."

* * * * *

"There is one thing that strikes me as peculiar in Miss Stuyvesant, and
that is, that as much pleasure as she seems to take in my society when
we meet, she never comes to see me in Mr. Sylvester's house. For a long
time I wondered over this but said nothing, but one day upon receiving a
second invitation to visit her, I mentioned the fact as delicately as I
could, and was quite distressed to observe how seriously she took the
rebuke, if rebuke it could be called. 'I cannot explain myself,' she
murmured in some embarrassment; 'but Mr. Sylvester's house is closed
against me. You must not ask me to seek you there or expect me to do
myself the pleasure of attending Mrs. Sylvester's receptions. I cannot.
Is that enough for me to say to my dearest friend?' I hardly knew what
to reply, but finally ventured to inquire if she was restrained by any
fact that would make it undignified in me to seek her society and enjoy
the pleasures she is continually offering me. And she answered with such
a cheerful negative I was quite reassured. And so the matter is settled.
Our friendship is to be emancipated from the bonds of etiquette and I am
to enjoy her company whenever I can. To-morrow we are going to take our
fi