fine stuffs for upholstering and drapery, where the new-fashioned
Indian carpets were displayed to view, and fine gilded furniture
from France, which a little later on became the rage all through
the country. His own house was now nothing more than a dwelling
place for himself and his family; even his apprentices and workmen
were lodged elsewhere. The neighbours, used to simpler ways, shook
their heads, and prophesied that the end of so much pride would be
disaster and ruin. But year after year went by, and the Master
Builder grew richer and richer, and could afford to laugh at the
prognostications of those about him, of which he was very well
aware.

He was perhaps somewhat puffed up by his success. He was certainly
proud of the position he had made. He liked to see his wife sweep
along the streets in her fine robes of Indian silk, which seemed to
set a great gulf between her and her neighbours. He allowed his son
to copy the fopperies of the Court gallants, and even to pick up
the silly French phrases which made the language at Court a mongrel
mixture of bad English and vile French. All these things pleased
him well, although he himself went about clad in much the same
fashion as his neighbours, save that the materials of his clothing
were finer, and his frills more white and crisp; and it was in his
favour that his friendship with his old friend James Harmer had
never waned, although he knew that this honest tradesman by no
means approved his methods.

Perhaps in his heart of hearts he preferred the comfortable living
room of his neighbour to the grandeur insisted upon by his wife at
home. At any rate, he found his way three or four evenings in the
week to Harmer's fireside, and exchanged with him the news of the