The furniture had evidently been very handsome in its day, and would do quite well, he thought, to begin with: much of it might, with re-upholstering and varnishing, please Violet as well as any that could be bought elsewhere. He was eager to bring her to look at it, the house and the grounds.
These last delighted both himself and Grace, although lawn and gardens were far from being as trim and neat as those of Ion and Fairview: there was an air of neglect about the whole place, but that could soon be remedied.
The bit of woodland was beautiful; and through it, and across lawn and gardens, ran a little stream of clear, sparkling water,—a pretty feature in the landscape, without being deep enough to be dangerous to the little ones.
Grace went everywhere with her father, up-stairs and down, indoors and out, quietly looking and listening, but seldom speaking, unless addressed.
Once or twice she said, in a low aside, "Papa, I'd like to live here, if you can 'ford to buy it.
"Papa, this is such a pretty room, and the view from that window is so nice!"
He would reply only by a kind smile, or a word or two of assent. She did not understand all the talk in the library after they had finished their round, and when they left was still in some doubt as to her father's intentions.
"Papa," she asked eagerly, as soon as they were fairly on their homeward way, "have you bought it?"
"We have come to an agreement," he answered.
"Then, is it ours?"