"
"I am very sorry, my darling, that the pleasure of your return to the home
of your infancy should be so marred. But you have scarcely taken a look
yet at even this room. What do you think of it?"
She glanced about her with freshly aroused curiosity and interest. "Papa,
it is just to my taste!"
The firelight gleamed upon rare old cabinets, gems of art in painting and
statuary, and rich, massive, well-preserved, though old-fashioned sofas,
chairs, tables, etc. But it was already growing dark, deep shadows were
gathering in the more distant parts of the spacious apartment, and only
near the fire could objects be distinctly seen. Elsie was about to ring
for lights, when Sarah, the mulatto girl, appeared, bringing them, Chloe
following close in the rear.
"Have you fires and lights in the library, the dining-room, and your
master's rooms and mine?" inquired Elsie.
"De fires is lit, Miss Elsie."
"Then add the lights at once, and put them in all the principal rooms of
the house. We will have an illumination in honor of our arrival, papa,"
she said, in a sprightly tone, turning to him with one of her sweetest
smiles, "and besides, I want to see the whole house now."
"Are you not too much fatigued, daughter? and would it not be better to
defer it till to-morrow?"
"I don't think I'm too tired, papa; but if you forbid me----"
"No, I don't forbid or even advise, if you are sure you feel equal to the
exertion.
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