have me tell her what I saw up here, so maybe you wouldn't mind
lettin' me go into that big room where the silk fixin's are. I'll take
off my shoes, if you say so."

"Your shoes won't hurt an atom; come right along," Mrs. Noah replied,
now in the best of moods, for, except her cup of green tea with
raspberry jam and cream, she enjoyed nothing more than showing their
handsome house.

Conducting him through the wide, marbled hall, she ushered him into
the drawing-room, where for a time he stood perfectly bewildered. It
was his first introduction to rosewood, velvet, and brocatelle, and it
seemed to him as if he had suddenly been transported to fairy-land.

"Maddy would like this--it's her nature," he whispered, advancing a
step or two, and setting down his feet as softly as if stepping on
eggs.

Happening to lift his eyes before one of the long mirrors, he spied
himself, wondering much what that "queer-looking chap" was doing there
in the midst of so much elegance, and why Mrs. Noah did not turn him
out! Then mentally asking forgiveness for this flash of pride, and
determined to make amends, he bowed low to the figure in the glass,
which bowed as low in return, but did not reply to the very good-natured
remark: "How d'ye do--pretty well, to-day?"

There was a familiar look about the round cape of the camlet cloak,
and Grandpa Markham's face turned crimson as the truth burst upon him.

"How 'shamed of me Maddy would be," he thought, glancing sidewise at