Oh, no! I was just thinking how lovely the glint of the gold lettering on each dark book makes the room seem. If only there was a dark polished floor to reflect the chair and table legs, the room would be wonderful! But this large carpet spoils that effect! Nolla exclaimed impetuously.
Mrs. Wellington straightened her spine and looked in hurt amazement at this inexperienced miss who babbled like an expert decorator. No one had ever criticised that carpet rug before!
Anne saw the look and comprehended at once, so she dropped oil on the troubled waters. Oh, Nolla! you are so carried away with your hobby of studying decorating that you needs must practise it and criticise everywhere. Now, Im sure, Mrs. Wellington never would have dreamed of your ambition had you not showed it so plainly in your words just now.
Eleanor understood Annes motive in speaking thus, and smiled benignly. Polly was still trying to grasp the handle to Annes remark when the lady of the house led them forth again.
Here are a number of smaller rooms where girls may sit and read or study in the evening. And now we will go up to the class rooms.
If Eleanor and Polly had been able to find flaws with the lack of taste shown in the furnishings of the first-floor, they could not detect the slightest item missing in the equipment and furnishing of the different school rooms. Every known modern device and object for the comfort, health and help of scholars, were in evidence. Anne smiled with pleasure as she looked around.
It will be a delight to teach in such a room as this, Mrs. Wellington; and Im sure the scholars appreciate all you do for them.
No, that is the strange part of it, Miss Stewart. The girls who come here seldom think of all I do for them in providing these rooms. They take it as a matter of course that I should spend so much money in keeping everything as I do, while my competitors ask higher rates and spend less; the lady looked troubled over it.
Now I have a friend down on Seventy-second street, who has conducted a most exclusive school for years; but she will not spend a cent in these ideal accommodations yet she gets higher prices than I do. And her waiting list of well-known names is endless. I only have a list of about a dozen applicants and they are not daughters of millionaires, either.
Perhaps, Anne remarked kindly, the girls you graduate make something of themselves in life, whereas those other society girls merely skim over lessons and never know how to spell their own names.
Yes, that is true; I secure the very best teachers and try to instill knowledge wisely. And I am sure, my girls, upon leaving here, can compete with anyone.
I should say that was a great comfort. To look back some day and be able to say: I taught that girl how to combat ignorance. And the girls who sincerely admit what you have done, will rise up and call you blessed for giving them these expensive modern helps to acquire wisdom.
Madam seemed pleased with this point of view, and said: You will stop and have luncheon with me, wont you, dears?
We really cannot, Mrs. Wellington. You see we have to furnish the home that we just leased, yesterday. We are most anxious to have everything in order before starting with our school work on the first, Anne explained, politely.
Oh, of course, that is wise. Then I will look for you Monday morning the first of October. If there is anything you wish to know, you can call me up any time during the mornings. And if you are in this neighborhood before the first, do come in and have tea.
After the girls had gone, Madam
smiled and thought to herself: I certainly made no mistake in engaging that young teacher. She seems to be the best one I have ever interviewed. And the girls will take to her, Im sure.
Anne led the way to a Broadway trolley, and soon they were at the hotel. Mrs. Stewart was impatiently awaiting them, so they had an early luncheon and then hurried downtown to the Art Galleries on Fourth avenue.
The sale had just opened, and they were able to secure front chairs. A list had been made of pieces of furniture they really needed to start house-keeping with, and now they hoped to be able to find just the things they had pictured for the Studio.
A solid mahogany gate-leg table was knocked down to Anne for fourteen dollars and a half. Then a wing-chair with quaint lines, upholstered in orchid blue velour, was sold to Eleanor for nineteen dollars.
Dear me, that was a lovely chair, Nolla. I wish I had one like it, sighed Polly.
Isnt my table a dear! whispered Anne, eagerly.
But it has as many legs as a centipede, replied Polly.
The others laughed gaily at her criticism but at that moment, a comfortable Turkish arm-chair was placed upon the dais. It was upholstered in a rich tapestry, and looked oh! so luxurious.
Polly watched the bidders anxiously. She had a sudden desire for that chair, but she couldnt manage to get in at the bidding, at all. But when she saw a woman opposite, hold up a hand above her head, and so learned that that was one way to catch the auctioneers attention, she, too, followed suit.