She instantly held up her hand, and just saved the chair from being sold to a man at the back. So it was knocked down to her at seventeen-fifty.
There! That is Mrs. Stewarts chair. I saw the look in her eye when it was placed upon the dais; and I know just how she will enjoy it when she has done preparing our dinners. That chair, out before the open fire-place giving rest to a tired house-keeper, will make one feel like new! Polly said.
But, Polly, child! you must not spend your money buying me such things! exclaimed Mrs. Stewart.
I will if I want to! This is the first stick youve got for your room. And without you, Id like to know what kind of a home wed have. So dont you say another word if I want to buy other things for you.
Anne objected. Maybe this one chair is all right, Polly, but no more, please.
Anne, just see all the money were saving on buying our furniture, this way. Why cant I use the surplus as I want to? I say I will if I see anything I want very much to give you or your mother.
Anne knew when Polly was determined to have her way, and believed the best plan now would be to buy what was needed for herself and her mother, so as to forestall Polly or Eleanor.
So that afternoon Anne got two single brass beds with brand new springs and mattresses. The auctioneer explained that the bedding was sent in by the Manhattan Factory, because of an order that had been cancelled before delivery of goods. So Anne secured the bedding at half price.
Neither of the girls suspected Anne of any secret plot when she bought other articles at that sale for the two bedrooms she needed to furnish; but when Eleanor eagerly bid on a Priscilla work-table of mahogany and got it for Mrs. Stewart, Anne felt annoyed.
My goodness, Anne, it was only five-fifty. Who ever saw a work-table as cheap as that, before? I know your mother will love to darn stockings for us all, now with a nice place in which to keep her wools, argued Eleanor, laughingly.
Maybe mother would rather not darn stockings but let you keep the table, yourself, suggested Anne.
Before they left the Art Gallery that day, they found they had really bought enough articles to start in with if they liked. They could add rugs, bric-a-brac, and different luxurious chairs, at any time.
But we need dishes and utensils, girls, said Mrs. Stewart.
Well get them in a department store, and have them delivered at once, replied Anne.
Lets run over and see if the painters have done anything, suggested Polly.
Might as well, Anne we are right here, you see, added Eleanor.
So they turned the corner and walked down the street to reach the Studio in time to see the painters finish the work on the ground floor.
How nice and fresh it looks. But the wallpaper looks dusty, said Mrs. Stewart.
It is dusty, madam. I was just sayin to my friend here you ought to have someone clean it all off with bread crumbs. It is a swell paper if it is clean, remarked the painter.
Bread-crumbs? ejaculated Anne.
Yesm. Best thing known to clean fine paper. Ill get a man to do it if you say so. He knows his job.
I wish you would. And ask him to supply the bread, too, as we are stopping at a hotel where it is hard to get such things.
An I was goin to mention the porcelain tubs and basins oughta be cleaned fer youse. When we finish painting I will scour and polish em, if you say so.
Yes, please do! And the floors ought to be polished, too.
Well take care of all that, if you just tell us to go ahead and clean up as we see fit, said the painter.
All right; but dont make us wait too long before we can move in. We are going to have a house-warming, here, next week, explained Eleanor, anxiously.
Ive got an extra man comin on to-morrow, and well be out of here by Saturday. Especially if we work Sataday afternoon but that means double pay, you know.
Never mind that; finish the job as soon as possible, for we will save that much extra money in hotel bills, said Anne.
All right! Well turn it over for you Sataday night!
Everything seemed to be going so well, not only with their Studio-home, but with furnishings and decorators, that the girls felt elated.
The next day they again met Mr. Fabian at the Art Galleries, and he proved a very welcome member to their party, as he knew all about rugs, porcelains, and antiques. Having shown them and explained all about the few rare pieces still for sale in the auction rooms, he said:
Some day you must go with me to some of the other places. There are dozens of these shops in New York, and each one seems to incline to some particular line of furnishing. Then, too, one can see more wonderful antiques in these shabby little shops along the avenue, than one would believe possible.
I often pick up rare things in these places. They are run, mostly, by Hebrews who merely know when an object is antique, or in demand. But they seldom can tell you the period or name of many of their most valuable items. It was in this way that a friend of mine once discovered a treasure.