r down faster than a walk or a slow
trot."

"Would you like to experiment in the new house? You may do so--at your
own expense--if you will promise not to spoil the plan. Among the
designs for the stairs there is one that will be of no service to
us--the screen at the foot of the stairs; our 'reception' hall will be
separated from the staircase hall by the chimney and the curtains at
the sides."

"I have an idea," exclaimed Jack, "a truly philanthropic one. You know
we are accumulating a large stock of plans, to say nothing of general
information on architectural subjects, which we cannot possibly use
ourselves, but which ought not to be wasted. Now you know Bessie is
pining for a mission.".

"Bessie has gone home."

"I know, but she will come back if we send for her and tell her that
she and Jim are to be sent out in the express wagon on a benevolent
expedition to the heathens--the uncultured domestic heathens. We can
have some of the architect's letters printed in tract form for them to
distribute, and they can take along these superfluous plans to be
applied where they will be most effective. Take, for instance, this
hall screen, or whatever it may be, with the square staircase behind
it. This would be just the thing for one of those old-fashioned square
houses with the hall running through the middle and the long staircase
splitting the hall in two lengthwise. If Bessie could persuade the
owner of a single one of these old houses to take out the straight and
narrow stairs, move them back, and, by introducing this semblance of a
separation, make a reception hall of the front part, she would feel
that she had not lived in vain. If she could at the same time cause
cashmere shawls and rag carpets to be hung as portieres in place of
doors to the front rooms she would be ready for translation."

Jill laughed. "I'm not sure," said she, "but this is a good field for
people of missionary proclivities. Some of these old-fashioned houses
have far more real, artistic excellence than those of the later,
transition periods, and need but slight alterations to be most
satisfactory types of architectural beauty as well as models of comfort
and convenience. Broad, easy stairs, wide doorways and generous
windows, with ample porches and piazzas outside, would transform them
and make them not merely as good as new, but vastly better. Reopening
fireplaces that have been ignominiously bricked up would be another
promising field."