Meanwhile, the two advanced students visited every exhibit or lecture given on their beloved work, and thus acquired more of the idealistic experiences in art. For business application of their understanding of decorating, Mrs. Courtney supplied one channel of such testing; and Mr. Dalken offered another outlet for their wisdom, for he had decided to erect a magnificent office building on upper Fifth Avenue, and keep the entire top floor as a private apartment for himself.
The girls had many interesting mornings in Mrs. Courtney’s home, listening to her accounts of trips to every country in quest of curios and antiques. Her residence was filled with the results of her travels, and her memory teemed with thrilling stories of adventure for the rare and beautiful trophies she secured.
“There is still one interesting spot on this globe which I am keen to visit, but I have never had the opportunity to go as I wish to go,” said Mrs. Courtney, one day, after she had been showing the two girls the collection of Filipino curios she got during a six months’ stay at the Philippines.
“I should have said there was no spot where you have not been,” laughed Eleanor.
“But there is, and that is the South Sea Isles. I have——”
“Where?” gasped both the girls, unconsciously interrupting the speaker.
Mrs. Courtney laughed. “Yes, the South Sea Isles. Do not think them so cannibalistic as report has it, my dears. I know an American who has lived there more than twenty years and he says that for climate and interesting life, give him the South Sea Islands. He almost persuaded me to take the trip when he was here last.”
“Is he an old friend?” asked Polly.
“No; he is a man I used to commission to find certain curios for me. He tells me that textiles woven and colored by the natives of those islands are the most beautiful things ever seen. The carvings and hammered brasses are more gorgeous than those of Benares or of the East. He has made quite a fortune out of exporting selected articles from the Isles to the United States, but the great difficulty in such trade is the uncertain transportation methods. His goods may reach their destination and again they may not. It depends on the character of the owner or captain of the vessel. He all but persuaded me to buy or lease a sea-going yacht and make the trip for a year’s outing. He promised me that all costs would quickly be defrayed by the valuable cargo which could be stored away in very small space on board the yacht.”
“If you were so keen about visiting that place why did you renounce it?” queried Eleanor, wonderingly.