Chapter VII

My conductor led me upstairs into a passage which took us back to the bed chamber, in which

I had slept during the past night, and opening the door next to it begged me to look in.

"'I have my master's orders to show you your own sitting-room, sir,' said the man,

and to inquire if you approve of the situation and the light.

I must have been hard to please, indeed, if I had not approved of the room and of everything

about it.

The bow window looked out on the same lovely view which I had admired in the morning

from my bedroom.

The furniture was the perfection of luxury and beauty.

The table in the center was bright with galey-bound books, elegant conveniences for writing

and beautiful flowers.

The second table, near the window, was covered with all the necessary materials for mounting

water-colored drawings and had a little easel attached to it which I could expand or fold

up at will.

The walls were hung with galey-tinted chints, and the floor was spread with Indian matting

in maize-color and red.

It was the prettiest and most luxurious little sitting-room I had ever seen, and I admired

it with the warmest enthusiasm.

The solemn servant was far too highly trained to betray the slightest satisfaction.

He bowed with icy deference when my terms of eulogy were all exhausted and suddenly

opened the door for me to go out into the passage again.

...