"Why, yes, I'll do it, of course; only I've some matters at home--"

"Home! You call those stuffy, smoky, impossible, half-furnished rooms
_home_! Phil, when are you ever going to get some pretty furniture and
art things? Eileen and I have been talking it over, and we've decided to
go there and see what you need and then order it, whether you like it or
not."

"Thanks," he said, laughing; "it's just what I've tried to avoid. I've
got things where I want them now--but I knew it was too comfortable to
last. Boots said that some woman would be sure to be good to me with an
art-nouveau rocking-chair."

"A perfect sample of man's gratitude," said Nina, exasperated; "for I've
ordered two beautiful art-nouveau rocking-chairs, one for you and one
for Mr. Lansing. Now you can go and humiliate poor little Eileen, who
took so much pleasure in planning with me for your comfort. As for your
friend Boots, he's unspeakable--with my compliments."

Selwyn stayed until he made peace with his sister, then he mounted to
the nursery to "lean over" the younger children and preside at prayers.
This being accomplished, he descended to the library, where Eileen
Erroll in a filmy, lace-clouded gown, full of turquoise tints, reclined
with her arm around Drina amid heaps of cushions, watching the waitress
prepare a table for two.

He took the fresh, cool hand she extended and sat down on the edge of
her couch.