at the other; the central hall that would be used as a common
reception-room, and on such occasions as the present, would become a
part of one large apartment--the entire first floor of the main house;
the staircase with the stained-glass windows climbing the side; the
toilet-room from the garden entrance and the elevator reaching from the
basement to the attic. She showed them the family suite of rooms; her
own in the southeast corner, with the dressing-room and adjoining
chamber toward the west, and Jack's room over the front hall, with the
large guest-room above the dining-room. She urged them to count the
closets and notice their ample size; referred with pride to the
servants' rooms, and explained how there was space in the roof for two
chambers and a billiard-room, if they should ever want them. With true
housekeeper's pride she declared the beauties and wonders of the
kitchen arrangements, a theme that had been often rehearsed, and from
the kitchen they descended to the basement, which contained the
well-lighted laundry, the servants' bath-room and store-rooms without
name or number; some warm and sunny, others cool and dark, but all dry
and well ventilated.

Then they returned to the drawing-room to make their reports.

"It's too large," said Bessie.

"It isn't small enough," said Jim.

"The third floor is not the proper place for a billiard-table,"
remarked Uncle Melville, sententiously. "It is too remote for such a
social pastime; too difficult of access; too--too--er--"

"The house looks smaller than it is," said Aunt Melville, "which I
consider a serious defect. It ought to look larger; it should have a
tower, and the front door should be toward the street."

"Your chambers are excellent," said Uncle Harry. "The personality of
human beings should be respected. The chief object of home is to give
to each individual a chance for unfettered development. Every soul is a
genius at times and feels the necessity of isolation. Especially do we
need to be alone in sleep, and to this end every person in a house is
entitled to a separate apartment. I commend the family suite."

"A nobby house," said Cousin George.

"I like our own better," said his wife, _sotto voce_, which was a
worthy sentiment and should have been openly expressed. Fondness for
our own is the chief of domestic virtues.

"Is it paid for?" inquired Jack's father. To which Jack replied:

"It is: and the house that I built is sold to the mos