Jane Admires 



I think you must see the rest of the house before 

 we set foot in the garden. Stand for a moment at 

 the front door, and look along the hall. You did 

 not appreciate the Hepplewhite chairs with their 

 blue cushions, or the narrow Tudor table, which 

 doubles its length at one touch, and again at 

 another, or the Florentine baby sitting on the rose du 

 Barri cushion reading his little scroll of music. His 

 brother is up there writing : the composer and virtu- 

 oso. I believe they have another brother blowing his 

 own trumpet, but that is what no one is allowed to do 

 here — except myself — so he was left behind in Italy. 

 Here is Peter-cat, a smoky blue Persian with 

 golden eyes. He has been very friendly with us 

 lately because the kitchen cat has had four kittens, 

 which he cannot endure. When first he came from 

 London he was filled with enthusiasm for the 

 simple life, and undertook to live only by what 

 he killed. He had his moment of revolt against 

 modern civilisation, but, like the rest of us, the 

 habit of good living and ease was too strong for 

 him, and he comes to us for food, and having his 

 neck tickled takes the place of sport. He is beauti- 

 ful enough to be entirely selfish without unpleasant 

 consequences, and he is irresistible when he comes 

 in with the smell of honeysuckle, or roses, or 

 lavender strong upon him. 



35 



