adorn their city."

"It's like that little schemer. What does Henderson say?"

"He appears to be willing. I can't get the hang of Henderson. He doesn't
seem to care what his wife does. He's a cynical cuss. The other night,
at dinner, in Washington, when the thing was talked over, he said: 'My
dear, I don't know why you shouldn't do that as well as anything. Let's
build a house of gold, as Nero did; we are in the Roman age.' Carmen
looked dubious for a moment, but she said, 'You know, Rodney, that you
always used to say that some time you would show New York what a house
ought to be in this climate.' 'Well, go on,' and he laughed. 'I suppose
lightning will not strike that sooner than anything else.'" "Seems to
me," said the Major, reflectively, reaching out his hand for the brown
mug, "the way he gives that woman her head, and doesn't care what she
does, he must have a contempt for her."

"I wish somebody had that sort of contempt for me," said Jack, filling
up his glass also.

"But, I tell you," he continued, "Mrs. Henderson has caught on to the
new notions. Her idea is the union of all the arts. She has already got
the refusal of a square 'way up-town, on the rise opposite the Park, and
has been consulting architects about it. It is to be surrounded with the
building, with a garden in the interior, a tropical garden, under glass
in the winter. The facades are to be gorgeous and monumental. Artists
and sculptors are to decorate it, inside and out. Why shouldn't there
be color on the exterior, gold and painting, like the Fugger palaces in
Augsburg, only on a great scale? The artists don't see any reason why
there should not. It will make the city brilliant, that sort of thing,
in place of our monotonous stone lanes. And it's using her wealth for
the public benefit-the architects and artists all say that. Gad, I don't
know but the little woman is beginning to regard herself as a public
benefactor."

"She is that or nothing," echoed the Major, warmly.

"And do you know," continued Jack, confidentially, "I think she's got
the right idea. If I have any luck--of course I sha'n't do that--but
if I have any luck, I mean to build a house that's got some life in
it--color, old boy--something unique and stunning."

"So you will," cried the Major, enthusiastically, and, raising his
glass, "Here's to the house that Jack built!"

It was later than he thought it would be when he went home, but Jack was
attended all the way by