“Don’t be alarmed, sir,” replied the builder; “every house in the row will be finished before the winter. We really cannot attend to the applications for them.”
We entered the house.
“Is not the entrance handsome?” observed my wife; “so neat and clean.”
To this I had not a reply to make; it certainly did look neat and clean.
We went into the dining-room. “What a nice room,” exclaimed my eldest daughter. “How many can we dine in this room?”
“Um!” replied I; “about twelve, I suppose, comfortably.”
“Dear me!” observed the builder; “you have no notion of the size of the house; rooms are so deceiving, unfurnished. You may sit down twenty with ease; I’ll appeal to the lady. Don’t you think so, ma’am?”
“Yes, I do,” replied my wife.
After that we went over the drawing-rooms, bed-rooms, and attics.
Every bed-room was apportioned by my wife and daughters, and the others were allotted to the servants; and that in the presence of the builder, who took good note of all that passed.