sweep of the now
'awful' fittings of the big drawing-room, replacing them with parquet
rugs and divans, and things of the softest, finest and most costly
kind; she arranged the morning-room for herself afresh; also the glazed
corridor, which became a beautiful art gallery and lounging-place; also
the remainder of the long unused rooms. She called to her all the
favourite old servants--except Keziah Moon, who was happy where she
was--and old Miss Keene to play chaperon once more, with nothing to do
but arrange flowers and doze at peace in the lap of luxury. Deb wanted
Jim for her manager, at a ridiculous salary, but he would not take the
post; he did, however, procure her an excellent substitute. She
commissioned him to buy her riding-horses--he "knew what she
liked"--regardless of expense; an English groom was given charge of
them when they arrived. So easily did the magnificent woman slide back
into her magnificent ways, for all her good taste and unpretentiousness.

When Claud Dalzell was driven in his hired buggy from the township to
her door, his critical eye took in the many changes that the old
homestead had undergone with high approval. Used as he was to far finer
houses and the best of everything, he felt that here was as fair a
camping-place as even he could desire. Redford, with a quarter of a
million behind it, with this setting of sunshine and spaciousness
(missed so much more than he had known till now), inclined--what a
haven of rest and pleasure, after the crowded and fatiguing experiences
of his later years!

He was shown upstairs to the big drawing-room. He hardly knew where he
was, with the grass-green carpet and festooned window-draperies and
gilding and plate-glass vanished, and these soft-coloured stuffs and
subtle harmonies around him. He could recognise nothing but a few
pictures and the old piano, the latter spread with a gem of Chinese
embroidery, on which stood a gem of a Satsuma bowl filled with fine
chrysanthemums. It was late in autumn now.

And while he wandered about, examining this and that with the pleasure
of a satisfied connoisseur, Deb stood in the sitting-room downstairs,
with clenched hands and teeth, staring at his card on a table before
her.

"He has the cheek," she thought, afire with indignation--never so hot
and bitter as when directed against one we love who has offended
us--"he has the unspeakable effrontery to come and see me NOW, when he
never came near me all those h