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Page 33
While they were spoiling their eyes in the twilight Jack pressed the
electric "button" that lighted the gas instantaneously all over the
house, causing Bessie to cry out in protest against such a sudden
transition. "It is so violent, so unlike the slow, sweet processes of
nature. I never shall learn to like gas, and the electric light is
absolutely _horrid_. Don't you love tapers, Mr. James?"
"Tapirs? I don't think I'm a judge; I never had one. I should rather
have a tame zebra."
"Oh, I mean tapers for light!"
"Excuse me--certainly: yes, that is, I think I do. We don't use them
very often. Do you mean tallow or wax?"
"Wax, of course! They have such elegant decorations on them. I had a
most exquisite sconce Christmas, with two of the loveliest tapers
completely covered with Moorish arabesques in crimson and old gold."
"What becomes of the decorations when the tapers burn up?"
"Well, we don't burn them much. Indeed, I don't think we ought to use
artificial light at all. The mysterious light of the moon and stars is
so much more enchanting. Don't you love to muse and dream in the fading
twilight?"
"No, not very well. The trouble is if I get to sleep before I go to bed
I don't sleep as well afterward."
"Oh, I don't mean actual dreams, but vague, dreamy musings, esthetic
aspirations and longings. Do you never long for abstract beauty?"
"Well, no, not long. If I can't get what I want pretty quick I
generally go for something else."
This irrelevant conversation was vastly entertaining to Jack, who,
knowing how unlike were the dispositions of his brother and his wife's
cousin, had contrived their meeting with special reference to his own
amusement. When the clock told the hour for retiring he brought Bessie
a tin candlestick, in which a tallow candle smoked and spluttered in a
feeble way, but filled the soul of the young lady with admiration, it
was so "full of feeling."
"Life is so much richer when our environment is illuminated and
glorified--"
"By tapers," said Jack as he bade her an affectionate good-night.
CHAPTER X.
MORE QUESTIONS OF FIRE AND WATER.
"We must devote this evening exclusively to the new house," said Jill,
as Jack started for his office. "The architect is waiting for
instructions, and every day we lose now will give us another day of
vexation and impatience when we are waiting for the house to be
finished."
"That's true, and it's a chronological fact that house-builders often
forget. Very well, I'll come home early. Will Bessie be here?"
"Certainly. She has come for a long visit."
"Then I shall bring up Jim again. One-half Bess says he can't
understand, and he doesn't approve of the other half; but we couldn't
keep him away if we tried. So we'll invite him to come. It's great fun
to hear Bessie's comments and witness Jim's helplessness."
"If you are going to devote yourself to Jim and Bessie," said Jill
severely, "I may as well answer these questions without consulting you
at all."
"Oh, pray don't do that. Give me a chance to express my opinions. Some
of them are strikingly bold and original. Besides, you will need me to
conduct the meeting."
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