And the drawing-room! As Alicia Drake advanced alone into its empty and
blazing magnificence she could only laugh in its face--so eager and
restless was the effort which it made, and so hopeless the defeat.
Enormous mirrors, spread on white and gold walls; large copies from
Italian pictures, collected by Henry Marsham in Rome; more facile
statues holding innumerable lights; great pieces of modern china painted
with realistic roses and poppies; crimson carpets, gilt furniture, and
flaring cabinets--Miss Drake frowned as she looked at it. "What _could_
be done with it?" she said to herself, walking slowly up and down, and
glancing from side to side--"What _could_ be done with it?"
A rustle in the hall announced another guest. Mrs. Fotheringham entered.
Marsham's sister dressed with severity; and as she approached her cousin
she put up her eye-glass for what was evidently a hostile inspection of
the dazzling effect presented by the young lady. But Alicia was not
afraid of Mrs. Fotheringham.
"How early we are!" she said, still quietly looking at the reflection of
herself in the mirror over the mantel-piece and warming a slender foot
at the fire.
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