The account ran thus:—
| Sixty yards of chintz at 14 cents a yard | $8.40 |
| Burlaps, cheese-cloth, white muslin | 3.25 |
| Fans, ribbons, crewels | 1.60 |
| Stamping a tidy | .30 |
| One wicker-work chair | 5.00 |
| Hanging-basket | 1.25 |
| Total | $19.80 |
"There's twenty cents left over," explained May, as she finished reading the items. "That will just get a yellow ribbon to tie round the handle of my clothes-brush. Eleanor, you've been ever so good to help me so much. When are you going to begin your room? You must let me help you now."
"I began this morning."
"Have you really begun? What did you get?"
"Oh, I didn't get anything. This first thing isn't to cost anything at all."
"Why, what is it?"
"You know that ugly fire-board in front of my fireplace? I have taken it upstairs to the attic, and mother has lent me some cunning little andirons and a shovel and tongs which grandmamma gave her, and I am going to have an open fire."
"But you don't need one. The room is warm enough, with your register."
"Oh, I know that. And I didn't mean that I was going to light the fire, only have it all ready for lighting. I rubbed the brass knobs myself with Puit's Pomade, and they shine beautifully, and I painted the bricks with red-ochre and water, and arranged the wood and kindlings, and it has such a cosy, homelike look, you can't think!"