CHAPTER III. 

 FROM NOVEMBER TO MAY. 



AFTER one summer in the little cottage, the abounding desire 

 for hospitality in the heart of the Constant Improver over- 

 came all obstacles, and it was decided to build the big house. This 

 was really a lark from beginning to end. Our materials, so far as 

 possible, were bought in the neighboring village where lived our 

 contractor, a fine cannv Scotchman, and most of the workmen. 



Standing apart from the main house, but joined to it by a one- 

 story passage-way, was the kitchen-house. This we built first: a 

 little economical square box of a place, with every convenience' 

 excellent ventilation, and not an inch of waste room. It was begun 

 the first dav of September and we moved into it the third of Novem- 

 ber. The laundry was our library. We gravely covered the 

 stationary tubs with a piece of tapestry, set the four small chaits 

 around the tiny air-tight stove, hung a picture or two. moved in a 

 small bookcase, a rug, and a table for writing, put up the little 

 cretonne curtains we had used in the cottage, and were very much at 

 home again. In the maids' tiny dining-room we had our meals, 



with the huge doors of the two ice-rooms o|>ening hospitably close 



33 



