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Page 10
"I suppose he intends to warn us, and I am not certain that our lot is
as dry as it ought to be. At all events we will have some holes dug in
different places and see if any water comes into them."
"Of course it will. Haven't we just had the 'equinoctial'? The ground
is full of water everywhere."
"If it is full this spring it will be full every spring. We may as well
order the drain tiles."
"It shall be done," said Jack. "Now let us have the second proviso. I
hope it will be shorter than the first."
"And, secondly," Jill continued reading, "provided you know what your
house is for. It is my conviction that of all the people who carefully
plan and laboriously build themselves houses, scarcely one in ten could
give a radical, intelligent reason for building them. To live in, of
course; but how to live is the question, and why. As they have been in
the habit of living? As their neighbors live? As they would like to
live? As they ought to live? Is domestic comfort and well-being the
chief motive? It is not, usually; hence, there are in the world a great
many more houses than homes."
"Oh, bother the preaching! It's all true, but we don't happen to need
it. When is he coming?"
"Next week, and he hopes we shall have 'some general idea of what we
want.' How very condescending! We know precisely what we want, as I can
easily show him."
[Illustration: A "CROSS-SECTION" PROPHECY.]
Jill accordingly produced a fresh sheet of "cross-section" paper, on
whose double plaid lines the most helpless tyro in drawing can make a
plan with mathematical accuracy provided he can count ten, and on this
began to draw the plan of the first floor, expounding as she drew.
"If we call the side of the house which is next the street the front,
the main entrance must be at the east side, because we need the whole
of the south side for our living rooms. You know the view toward the
southwest is the finest we shall have, especially from the chambers."
"How do I know? I didn't climb the step-ladder."
"And we must have a large bay window directly on that corner. The hall
must run through the house crosswise, with the stairs on the west side
of the house. As there is nothing to be seen in this direction except
the white walls and green blinds of the parsonage, the windows on the
stair-landing shall have stained glass. The dining-room will be at the
north side of the hall, with plenty of eastern windows, and behind that
the kitchen with windows at opposite sides. But you wouldn't understand
the beauty of my kitchen arrangements now. By-and-by, when you are
wiser, I will explain them. Do you like a fireplace in the hall, Jack?"
"I don't know as I do. Do you?"
"Of course! certainly."
"I shall be of all men most miserable without one. Can't we have two?"
"Perhaps so; but first let me read you Cousin Bessie's letter:
MY DEAREST JILL: I'm perfectly delighted to hear about the new
house. It will be an immense success. I _know_ it will--you are
so wise and so _practical_. How I _shall_ enjoy visiting you!
It is delightful to build houses now. Everybody thinks so much
more of the beautiful than they used to. Some of my friends
have the _loveliest_ rooms. The tones are _so_ harmonious, the
decorations so _exquisite_! Such sympathetic feeling and
spiritual unity! I _wish_ you could see Kitty Kane's hall. It
isn't bigger than a bandbox, but there's the _cunningest_
little fireplace in one corner, with real antique andirons and
the quaintest old Dutch tiles. They never make a fire in it;
couldn't if they wanted to--it smokes so. But it is _so_ lovely
and gives the hall such a sweet expression. You _will_ forgive
me, won't you, Jill, dear? but you know you are _so_ practical,
and I _do_ hope you won't forget the esthetic needs of home
life. Your loving cousin, BET."
"Let's give up the hall fireplace," said Jack.
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