第207页 / 共896页

Possibly at home, but of a certainty impossible for handmaid to

anticipate intentions of Miss Pross, as to admission or denial of

the fact.

"As I am at home myself," said Mr. Lorry, "I'll go upstairs."

Although the Doctor's daughter had known nothing of the country

of her birth, she appeared to have innately derived from it that

ability to make much of little means, which is one of its most

useful and most agreeable characteristics. Simple as the

furniture was, it was set off by so many little adornments, of no

value but for their taste and fancy, that its effect was

delightful. The disposition of everything in the rooms, from the

largest object to the least; the arrangement of colours, the

elegant variety and contrast obtained by thrift in trifles, by

delicate hands, clear eyes, and good sense; were at once so

pleasant in themselves, and so expressive of their originator,

that, as Mr. Lorry stood looking about him, the very chairs and

tables seemed to ask him, with something of that peculiar

expression which he knew so well by this time, whether he

approved?