"Of course not. Papa Schwartz said that I could go anywhere so long as a friend was with me. I stay in this room because I know it from experience; and I might go wrong did I leave it. But I am not afraid to explore the house with you, dear Janet. You shall be my eyes. Come, let us start on our expedition." Seeing no harm in this innocent proposal, Janet assented to it as a means of amusing Hilda. Hand in hand the two girls walked into the drawing-room, which Janet described in all its hideous colouring. Hilda was shocked. "Magenta and scarlet," she said; "it sounds dreadful!" "But you know nothing of colours, Hilda!" "No, but my dressmaker does. And she said that magenta and scarlet were ugly. I can't imagine them myself. She saw the drawing-room, and I merely re-echoed her opinion. What is scarlet like, Janet?" "It is a bright red." "But what is red like?" Janet was puzzled. She did not know how to describe the colour to one who had no conception of tint. "Red is--red," she said at length. "I can say no more. Let us go into the dining-room, Hilda." The _salon_ proved to be less glaring than the drawing-room, being papered and curtained and upholstered in dark green. The windows were few and filled with stained glass, so that the general effect was gloomy. In spite of her blindness, Hilda felt this. "I don't like this room, it is dark," she said abruptly. "Come away, Janet." "How do you know it is dark?" questioned Janet, as they went out. "I cannot say. I feel happy in my own sitting-room, because I know it is bright; but here I feel wretched. I can give you no reason. But is it not curious, Janet? I can always tell dark stuff from light. I get a pain in my fingers when I touch anything black." "Nonsense, Hilda!" "Well, I can't describe my feelings any better to you. One has to be blind to understand these things. Where are we now, Janet?" "In Mr. Schwartz's study. It is decorated in dark red." "Dark again!" Hilda shuddered. "I don't like dark. Where is the desk?" "Just before the window, where the light falls strongest." "Lead me to it, Janet." Janet obeyed, and Hilda ran her fingers along the top of the desk. Then she made a discovery. "Papa has left his keys," she cried. "Now, I shall open all the drawers and take away the keys, just to punish him for being careless." "Oh, Hilda, don't do that. He might not like it." "Yes, he will. Papa Schwartz is never angry at what I do." "The more reason not to abuse his kindness." "How severe you are!" cried Hilda, with a pout. "Well, I shall leave the keys, but I shall open the drawers. After all, Janet, as I am blind I cannot see his secrets."