cheerful too, and even almost merry at times--the face of one more
thoughtful of others than herself, and, despite toil and sordid cares, a
gentlewoman, as was plain to see. The shaft of light from the window in
which she sat broadened into the room, and faded to shadow in far
corners among chairs with claw toes and shining mahogany tables--the
furniture of that day, with a certain flavor about it of elegance,
reflecting the primness and solidness of the owners. I wonder if to-day
our furniture represents us too in any wise? At least it will not
through the generations to follow us: of that we may be sure. In the
little garden, with red graveled walks between rows of box, walked to
and fro Mr. Schmidt, smoking his meerschaum--a rare sight in those days,
and almost enough to ensure your being known as odd. He walked about ten
paces, and went and came on the same path, while on the wall above a
large gray cat followed his motions to and fro, as if having some
personal interest in his movements. Against an apricot tree leaned Mr.
Wholesome, watching with gleams of amusement the cat and the man, and
now and then filliping at her a bit of plaster which he pulled from the
wall. Then the cat would start up alert, and the man's face would get to
be quizzically unconscious; after which the cat would settle down and
the game begin anew. By and by I was struck with the broad shoulders and
easy way in which Wholesome carried his head, and the idea came to me
that he had more strength than was needed by a member of the Society of
Friends, or than could well have been acquired with no greater exercise
of the limbs than is sanctioned by its usages. In the garden were also
three elderly men, all of them quiet and clerkly, who sat on and about
the steps of the other window and chatted of the India ships and
cargoes, their talk having a flavor of the spices of Borneo and of
well-sunned madeira. These were servants of the great India houses when
commerce had its nobles and lines were sharply drawn in social life.