"I love it, I _love_ it! I never had nothin' gay colored in my life, and I love it." "I knew you would. Come into the bedroom. Isn't this gray furniture dear? Don't those long mirrors look lovely with the gray wood? And aren't the toilet things pretty? See the monogram--_D. D_. I thought a lot about it, and aren't they pretty on that dull silver? Look at this mirror--and isn't that the _cunningest_ pin-tray? And this is for your hatpins; and look at this pin-cushion. I had the loveliest time picking them out." Drusilla looked at the pretty things in amazement rather mixed with awe. "Why, what'll I do with all them things?" "Oh, you'll use them all. There isn't one too many, and perhaps I've forgotten some things. If I have, we will go and pick them out together. You will let me go with you, won't you, because I love to shop. Oh, I forgot--here is your bathroom, and beyond that is your maid's room. She is quite near, so if you feel ill in the night you can call her. But let me take off your hat. Shall I ring for Jeanne? No," as she saw the frightened look come into the eyes, "perhaps you'd rather be with me just at first. How pretty your hair is, so soft and fluffy. You must blue it, it is so white. I wish my hair would fluff, but it won't curl except in wet weather. Now come into the other room and sit down in that soft chair. Isn't that an easy chair? I picked that out too. I chose everything in the room, and I'm so proud of it. See, here is the footstool that goes with it, and you sit by the big window here when you don't want to go downstairs, and this little table will hold your books or your sewing." Drusilla looked up at her. "You've been real kind, Miss Thornton; you've thought of everything." "But I loved it. I've been working ever since Father knew about you." "It is nice of you to be here. I was afraid a little to come, not knowin' what it was goin' to be like." "That's what I told Father. I said you didn't want to come into a big cold house with only a cold lawyer like him to say, 'Welcome home.' I made him let me come. I'm going to stay to dinner with you if you'll invite me. We'll send Father home. I don't live far from here--only about five minutes in the car--and Father can send back for me. Would you like me to stay?" Drusilla leaned forward eagerly. "Oh, do stay, Miss Thornton. I--I--well, I wouldn't know what to do by myself." "Well, you sit here by this fire and I'll go down and tell Father to go away. You don't want to hear any more business to-night and Father _always_ talks business. Just you take a little nap while I'm gone. Are you comfortable? There! I'll be back in five minutes." Drusilla sat down in the comfortable chair and watched the flames flickering in the grate; then her eyes passed lovingly around the room, resting on each beautiful picture, on the soft draperies, the easy-chairs and the flowers. She sat as one in a dream, until light steps were heard and Miss Thornton again entered the room.