CHAPTER XII
AN IDEAL LIFE
As the new house was approaching completion we found much pleasure in occasionally going to Knollwood for an hour or two, to look it over.
Our having selected the plans and site made it seem as if it belonged to us and our interest in its development was great. The kitchen was in the basement. On the first floor was a square entrance hall opening into parlor, dining-room, and library. There were four bed-rooms and bath-room on second floor and above that a maid's room and attic.
While the house was not large the rooms were all of comfortable size. For heating, in addition to the furnace, there were several open fire-places, a great desideratum in any house. In its exterior the style was something of the Swiss cottage.
The grounds consisted of about an acre in lawn with a few flower-beds and a number of fine trees.
In April we moved into the new house. Some additions had been made to our furnishings, and when all was in order we agreed that in our eyes there was no other house in the world quite so pretty.
It was a case of "contentment is wealth," and we were perfectly contented.
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Of course we must have a name for the place. Every one does that, in the country, and we were not to be the exception. One of our boundary lines was a brook and we decided on "Brookside Cottage."