Well, I needn't go through the process of buying a cheap carpet. The transaction ended by the two girls purchasing a carpet which, as Julia remarked, was really almost too ugly for words. It was not an ugly carpet as carpets for that price go--it would have been admirable in a bedroom, but for a sitting-room with a delicate Louis XV paper, with exquisite chintzes to match, it was certainly not a little out of keeping. "After all, the carpet doesn't matter," said Julia, with an air of making the best of it, "so long as it's unobtrusive and neat." "I believe plain felt would have been the best," said Maudie, eyeing the carpet with much disfavor. "They don't wear, do they?" said Julia, appealing to the young man. "No, a felt carpet doesn't wear, madam. It sweeps up into a good deal of fluff, and it's apt to induce moths in the house, and we really don't find them very satisfactory. It looks very nice at first," he ended with a flourish, as if their brains were enough to fill up the rest of the sentence. "Yes, I think so, too. Well, we'll have it, Maudie, eh? It will do for us to begin with," she added in a whisper. "Now tell us, where are the blinds?" "I can show you the blinds, madam. They are in the other end of the department." I must confess that the blinds were another blow. Mind you there were five windows to provide for--two single windows and a large bay of three lights. "These blinds are ruinous," remarked Maudie, as the young man drew down one rich linen and lace specimen after another. "I am afraid," said Julia, "we must have something more simple than that." "A good blind, madam, is worth its money. Blinds don't wear out like carpets," said the young gentleman. "I should personally recommend this one. Yes, it is rather dear to begin with, but it gives the window an air, and it will clean again and again and again. Perhaps your house is in a very smoky district." "No, it isn't. We live in Northampton Park." "Ah, then I should recommend these--I should really. They will be more satisfaction to you afterwards. A carpet is a very different thing. You are walking on a carpet every day, and it's hidden by other things, but blinds, unless you are having curtains quite stretched across the window, blinds are always in view. Really, I should recommend these."