112 GOLDEN DAYS 



worn thin and shiny with constant winding 

 of the lace thread — not two alike. Here 

 is a mass of *' trumpery," a pile of faded 

 finery galore (what fun must Suzanne 

 have had here on wet afternoons !), bits of 

 old brocade, and lace they wore on pardon 

 days, a tiny pair of sabots, a tarnished 

 bandolier, a broken crucifix, a quaint cut 

 powder-flask in metal, and, best of all, 

 grandfather's curious waistcoat of sombre 

 cloth, with facings of black velvet. But 

 just reverse it, as he did on Saints' days, 

 you'll find a brave show of cocks and 

 hens in cloth of gold with double row of 

 merry buttons. 



What a studio this top-floor would 

 make with its many cupboards and re- 

 cesses and its long straight wall ! There 

 the old oak divan w^ould " go " perfectly, 

 holding a world of ample cushions, and 

 just above, well within reach, should be 

 your shelf of books ; and that great 

 window— what a view ! — oh ! but there is 

 a better looking north from the smaller 

 window framed in crumbling sandstone, 

 where the martins build below the eaves. 

 From here you get the gently stirring 



