Page:In a winter city, by Ouida.djvu/112

Rh it with all the gilding re-gilded, and the pictures restored, and Aubusson and Persian carpets everywhere, and all those horrid old tapestries, that must be full of spiders, pulled down and burnt. What a heavenly place it would be—and what balls one might give in it! Why, it would hold ten thousand people!"

"Poor Paolo will never be able to do it," said the Princess Schouvaloff, "unless"

She glanced at the Lady Hilda where she sat, at the further end of the chamber, whilst Della Rocca leaned against the embrasure of the window.

"I think she has a fancy for him," said Madam Mila. "But as for marrying, you know,—that, of course, is out of the question."

"I don't see why," said the Princess.

"Oh, out of the question;" said Madame Mila, hastily. "But if she should take a liking to him, it would be great fun. She's been so awfully exaltée about all that sort of thing. Dear me, what a pity all those nasty, old, dull frescoes can't be scraped off and something nice and bright, like what they paint now, be put there;