As a result of our visit to the property, an arrangement was made for a house to be built for us on a lease of three years, and we were permitted to select the plans of the house, its site, and the interior decorations. Work was to commence at once and possession given us in April, 1879. Not wishing to spend another winter where we were, we returned to Brooklyn and remained with my parents until the new house was completed. When we commenced our packing preparatory to leaving the little farm, as we called it, there was a feeling akin to homesickness. We had been very happy and great blessings had come to us while there. The dear little baby girl, my health, prosperity in worldly affairs--all this and the thought of how the place had been a sort of lovers' retreat, where I had my wife all to myself most of the time, made the homely old farm-house seem something sacred. We could not but feel a little sentimental over it all. The garden, the arbor-vitae hedge, planted with my own hands, and now tall and almost impenetrable, the play-house which I built in the orchard for the children, all had to be visited with a feeling of saying good-by to old friends. There was hardly a summer for years after that we did not at least once drive down the old lane and look over the place where our country life had commenced, and I shall have for it always a tender spot in my memory. When, at the end of the year, the books were closed at the office, I was pleased to find that I had made a little over twelve thousand dollars. It had taken me eight years to catch up to the point where Mr. Derham left off, but I had finally succeeded. As I was but twenty-eight years of age, I congratulated myself with a little self-conceit that was perhaps pardonable. It had certainly been a hard up-hill fight. CHAPTER XII AN IDEAL LIFE As the new house was approaching completion we found much pleasure in occasionally going to Knollwood for an hour or two, to look it over. Our having selected the plans and site made it seem as if it belonged to us and our interest in its development was great. The kitchen was in the basement. On the first floor was a square entrance hall opening into parlor, dining-room, and library. There were four bed-rooms and bath-room on second floor and above that a maid's room and attic. While the house was not large the rooms were all of comfortable size. For heating, in addition to the furnace, there were several open fire-places, a great desideratum in any house. In its exterior the style was something of the Swiss cottage. The grounds consisted of about an acre in lawn with a few flower-beds and a number of fine trees. In April we moved into the new house. Some additions had been made to our furnishings, and when all was in order we agreed that in our eyes there was no other house in the world quite so pretty. It was a case of "contentment is wealth," and we were perfectly contented. [Illustration: "Sunnyside"]