"Oh! I tell you my idea is a capital one. I'll send for Bess this very
day. They shall have Bob and the express wagon a week if they want it.
They shall dispense an esthetic gospel and accumulate ancient
bric-a-brac to their hearts' content. Bessie will be in ecstacies, and
Jim will be in a helpless state of amazement and admiration."

[Illustration: A DIVIDING SCREEN AT THE FOOT OF THE STAIRS.]

"How perfectly absurd, Jack! I wouldn't allow those children to go off
on such an excursion for all the old houses in America. One would
think you were determined to have an esthetic sister-in-law at all
hazards."

"Never thought of such a thing! But now that you suggest it--"

"I haven't suggested it," said Jill indignantly.

"Well, you put it into my head at all events, and really now it
wouldn't be such a bad idea. Jim is behind the times, artistically
speaking, and needs to be waked up; and as for Bess, she would very
soon learn to be careful how she expressed a longing for the
unattainable, for Jim is a practical fellow, and whatever she wanted he
would go for in a twinkling. Honestly, Jill, it strikes me as a
first-class notion, and I'm glad you suggested it."

"I _didn't_ suggest it, and I think it would be a _dreadful_ thing--I
mean to send them off on another excursion. I am not sure, however, but
we might found an A.B.C.A.M. with the materials and implements in our
possession."

CHAPTER XVII.

THE RIGHT SIDE OF PAINT; A PROTEST AND A PROMISE.

Jack's benevolent ambition to distribute their superfluous plans among
those in need of such aids was strengthened by the receipt of another
roll of drawings, showing designs for the interior work, wainscots,
cornices, architraves, paneled ceilings and such wood finishings as are
commonly found in houses that are built in conventional fashion, with
lathed and plastered walls, trimmed at all corners and openings with
wood more or less elaborately wrought. Of course, it was a large
condescension in the architect to offer such a variety, and contrary to
his avowed determination to decide without appeal all questions of
construction and design, but he appreciated his clients and knew when
to break his own rules and when to insist upon their observance. If
Jill, had required an assortment he would doubtless have suggested that
certain "practical" builders could furnish a full line of ready-made
"artistic" patterns for little more than the cost of the paper on whic