"Not a tree, a shrub, a flower or a blade of grass!" she went on, sighing as she spoke.
"Never mind, we'll have lots of them next year, if I plant every one myself," said Rupert.
The last load of their household goods had just been brought up from the river, the men were carrying in the heavy boxes and setting them down upon the floor of the front room. The door stood wide open and they all walked in.
"Not a bit of a hall!" exclaimed Mildred, "not a cupboard or closet; nothing but four bare walls and two windows each side of the front door."
"Yes, the floor and ceilings," corrected Rupert.
"And another door on the other side," said Ada, running and opening it.
"Not a mantelpiece to set anything on, nor any chimney at all! How on earth are we going to keep warm in the winter time?" Mildred went on, ignoring the remarks of her younger brother and sister.
"With a stove, Miss; pipes run up through the floor into the room above; there's a flue there," said one of the men, wiping the perspiration from his forehead with the sleeve of his checked shirt.
Mr. Keith stopped to settle with the men for their work, and the others walked on into the next room.
It was as bare and more dreary than the first; somewhat larger, but had only one window, that and an outside door, opening directly upon the side street.