Page:Harper's New Monthly Magazine - v109.djvu/777



''HE scene displays a drawing-room and library of an up-town apartment, opening into each other and the hall behind them, and allowing through the drawing-room door a view of the end of the hall, with the hall door, Silk portières, drawn back, hang between these rooms, one of which, the library, is unpapered, except for large triangular strips, the remains of the wall-covering chosen by the recent occupants, alternating with corresponding triangles of white plaster. On one of these latter is scrawled in enormous letters, READY FOR NEW PAPER!''

''The wainscoted library is simply furnished with a handsome mahogany sideboard bearing an alarm-clock, a large packing-case, a barrel, a dictionary, and a large white-enamelled bedroom chair. The drawing-room contains a piano, a bookcase, a kitchen table, a dilapidated Morris chair, a pyramid of four large boxes and three pairs of brass andirons. Hung on the one large, ornamental nail, at a drunken angle, is an enormous engraving of the Sistine Madonna.''

The door from the hall is pushed violently open and Mr. Richard Tarrant ''enters the drawing-room, a large leather grip in one hand and a cast of the Winged Victory under the other arm. He directs around the room a malignant glance, which is arrested definitely by the Madonna, and changes suddenly into a look of horrified surprise. Sinking into the Morris chair, he lets the Victory fall across his knees, and shakes his fist feebly at the helpless engraving, muttering:'' "Foiled again!"

''The door opens slowly and cautiously, and a gay flower-hat projects into the room, to be instantly withdrawn. He calls out, crossly:'' "Well, what's the matter? Why not come in?"

The door opens again and Mrs. Richard Tarrant enters, an alabaster bust of Wagner in his tam-o'-shanter under her arm, and a very tall and fragile glass vase in the other hand.

Mrs. Tarrant: "Oh, it's you? I didn't know—"

Mr. Tarrant: "You didn't know? Did