"Well, come up to my room with me. I want to show you something."
Florry had no objections to see a little of Mr. Mansfield's house, about which she had heard so much, and she followed Tilly up-stairs to her own room. The house was indeed furnished "regardless of expense," as the saying is; but Florry noticed, as she passed through the parlours, that there were no books, and very few magazines or papers, and that, though there were some large pictures, they were more remarkable for their expensive gilt frames than for anything else. Besides, the colours of the carpets and curtains did not suit each other, and the furniture did not seem at all as if it had been made for comfortable use.
"It looks like a hotel," thought Florry, to herself: "I think our little house is much prettier. It looks as if everything was saying, 'See how much I cost!'"
Tilly's room, however, was more to her taste. Tilly loved story-books, and she had a great many of them; there were some really pretty "chromos" on the walls, and on a bracket in one corner stood a lovely little statuette.
"What a pretty room!" said Florry.
"Yes, I think it is pretty," answered Tilly, very much pleased. "My aunt Maria picked out the furniture and the pictures for me."
"I think they are lovely," said Florry; "and how many books you have, Tilly."
"Yes; I buy some every time I go to the city. Pa says it is all nonsense spending so much money for books, because they don't make any show, and you never can sell them for half what they cost; but he lets me spend my money as I like. Don't you want to borrow some of them, Florry? Take any you please. There is father calling me. Just look over the shelves, while I see what he wants; will you?"
Florry selected a couple of volumes, and by the time she had done so, Tilly came back.
"Papa would like to have your father come up and see Emmeline," said she.