in such a life as hers--everywhere at home,
carrying about with her wherever she went the materials for creating an
individual centre (a _chez soi_, which is something far more intimate
and personal than a home), in which everything was arranged according to
her fancy. Had Lucy, or even had Sir Tom, who knew more about such
matters, penetrated into that sacred retirement, they would not have
recognised it for a room in their own house. Out of one of the
Contessa's boxes there came a paraphernalia of decoration such as would
turn the head of the aesthetic furnisher of the present day. As she had
been everywhere, and had "taste," when it was not so usual to have taste
as it is now, she had "picked up" priceless articles, in the shape of
tapestries, embroideries, silken tissues no longer made, delicate bits
of Eastern carpet, soft falling drapery of curtains, such as
artistically arranged in almost any room, impressed upon it the
Contessa's individuality, and made something dainty and luxurious among
the meanest surroundings. The Contessa's maid, from long practice, had
become almost an artist in the arrangement of these properties, without
which her mistress could not live; and on the evening of the first day
of their arrival at the Hall, when Madame di Forno-Populo emerged from
the darkness of the chamber in which she had rested all day after her
journey, she stepped into a little paradise of subdued colour and
harmonious effect. Antonio and Marietta were the authors of these
wonders. They took down Mrs. Freshwater's curtains, which were of a
solid character adapted to the locality, and replaced them by draperies
that veiled the light tenderly and hung with studied grace. They took
to pieces the small bed and made a divan covered with old brocade of the
prosaic English mattress. They brought the finest of the furniture out
of the bedchamber to add to the contents of this, and covered tables
with Italian work, and veiled the bare wall with tapestry. This made
such a magical change that the maids who penetrated by chance now and
then into this little temple of the Graces could only stand aghast and
gaze with open mouths; but no profane hand of theirs was ever permitted
to touch those sacred things. There were even pictures on the wall,
evolved out of the depths of that great coffer, which, more dear to the
Contessa even than her wardrobe, went about with her everywhere--and
precious pieces of porcelain: Madame di Forno-Popul