to take my travelling bag and wraps, I was shown the cabin, or
rather the state-room which was to be mine during the cruise. It was
a luxurious double apartment, bedroom and sitting-room together,
divided only by the hanging folds of a rich crimson silk curtain,
and exquisitely fitted with white enamelled furniture ornamented
with hand-wrought silver. The bed had no resemblance whatever to a
ship's berth, but was an elaborate full-sized affair, canopied in
white silk embroidered with roses; the carpet was of a thick
softness into which my feet sank as though it were moss, and a tall
silver and crystal vase, full of gorgeous roses, was placed at the
foot of a standing mirror framed in silver, so that the blossoms
were reflected double. The sitting-room was provided with easy
chairs, a writing-table, and a small piano, and here, too, masses of
roses showed their fair faces from every corner. It was all so
charming that I could not help uttering an exclamation of delight,
and the maid who was unpacking my things smiled sympathetically.

"It's perfectly lovely!" I said, turning to her with eagerness--
"It's quite a little fairyland! But isn't this Miss Harland's
cabin?"

"Oh dear no, miss,"--she replied--"Miss Harland wouldn't have all
these things about her on any account. There are no carpets or
curtains in Miss Harland's rooms. She thinks them very unhealthy.
She has only a bit of matting on the floor, and an iron bedstead--
all very plain. And as for roses!--she wouldn't have a rose near her
for ever so!--she can't bear the smell of them."

I made no comment. I was too enchanted with my surroundings for the
moment to consider how uncomfortable my hostess chose to make