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74 much enthusiasm as he thought the occasion required.

"I 'm glad you think it 's pretty," she answered, evidently much pleased. "I ought not to have bought it, I suppose, but I do love pretty things."

"Why ought n't you to have bought it? What is the matter with it?"

"Nothing; I mean it was an extravagance. I sometimes think how perfectly delightful it would be to be able to go into stores and buy furniture and ornaments and curtains just whenever you wanted."

This remark dispelled Gault's preoccupation. He remained in the same position and continued staring at the cushion, but his glance had changed from its absent absorption to a fixed and listening intentness.

Viola saw that she had interested him, and continued with happy volubility:

"Sometimes, when I have nothing to do and am here alone, I think how I would furnish this room if I could buy anything I saw, and could just say to some outside person, the way princesses do, 'I have bought so much; please pay the bill.' I 've done it in white and gold, and in crimson with black wood, teak or ebony, very plain and heavy; and also in striped cretonnes with bunches of flowers, and little chairs and sofas with spindle legs. There 's a