She turned, as her mother came in, duly attended by Patience. "It is
hideous, isn't it, mother? The paper, I mean--and the carpet isn't
much better. It did very well, I suppose, for the visiting
ministers--probably they're too busy thinking over their sermons to
notice--but for Hilary--"
Mrs. Shaw smiled. "Perhaps you are right, dear. As to the
unattractiveness of the paper--"
"We must repaper--that's sure; plain green, with a little touch of
color in the border, and, oh, Mother Shaw, wouldn't a green and white
matting be lovely?"
"And expensive, Pauline."
"It wouldn't take all the twenty-five, I'm sure. Miranda'll do the
papering, I know. She did the study last year. Mother, couldn't we
have Jane in for the washing and ironing this week, and let Miranda get
right at this room? I'll help with the ironing, too."
"I suppose so, dear. Miranda is rather fussy about letting other
people do her regular work, you know."
"I'll ask her."
"And remember, Pauline, each day is going to bring new demands--don't
put all your eggs into one basket."
"I won't. We needn't spend anything on this room except for the paper
and matting."
Half an hour later, Pauline was on her way down to the village store
for samples of paper.
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