162 BRAGGADOCIO.

ask for it. Don’t spoil a good face, with what
you call a sheepish look.” |

The servant who came to the door, showed
the children into a large drawing-room, and
told them to wait there till Mr. Cramer had
done breakfast.

That drawing-room, with its rich furniture,
was like fairy land to the poor children. The
soft carpet with its rich flowers—the immense |
mirrors, from the floor to the high ceiling—that
painted ceiling with its gilded cornice—the
pictures in their gorgeous frames—the chairs
and sofas covered with red damask—the
window-curtains of blue damask, with the
rich lace curtains beneath—all these attracted
their wonder and admiration. But what most
excited and startled Bessie were four marble
statues standing on pedestals, one in each
corner of the spacious room. She walked up
to one beautiful female figure on tip-toe, and
stood gazing with awe upon a perfect copy of
Canova’s Flora.

Tom, meantime, was admiring the splendid
coloring of the carpet, and the curtains, and