“Yes; what to do with all those volumes I do not know. It is so inconsiderate of you when——”
“Oh, I didn’t mean the books—and I stopped at the carpenter’s; he is going to make shelves for them. But I meant the other package.”
“There wasn’t any other package.”
“Yes, there was”—his arm was still half around her. “I sent you—why here’s the expressman now. Hi! This is the place; yes, bring it here.”
He came back again to his wife. “There was a little debt paid me yesterday. After I got the books, I thought I’d buy a present for you.” He pressed her shoulder gently.
“Oh!”
“Something you’ve been wanting a long time, something you’ll like. It’s the large rug for the parlour.”
“The rug—Nevin, you didn’t get a rug without me?”
“You’ll find it’s all right when you see it. Stand off a moment”—he was disposing of the knotted cords with sharp clicks of his penknife. “I’ll spread it out for you. There—what do you think of that?”