There was magnanimity enough about her not to mind midge
bites, and certainly this summer was exceptionally delightful with
all the pleasures of wealth, and very few of its drawbacks.
By the time the holidays were coming round, Belforest was not half
habitable, and they had to return to the Pagoda. A tenant had been
found for it, and such of the old furniture as was too precious to be
parted with was to be removed to Belforest. Things were sufficiently
advanced there for the rooms to be chosen, and orders given as to the
decoration and furniture, and then, gathering up her sons, Caroline
meant to start for the Rhine, Switzerland, and Italy. Old nurse was
settled in a small pair of rooms, with Emma to wait on her, and
promises from Jessie to attend to her comforts; but the old woman had
failed so much in their absence, and had fretted so much after "Mrs.
Joseph" and the children, that it was hard to leave her again.
Everything that good taste and wealth could do to make a place
delightful was at work. The "butcher's shop" was relegated to a dim
corner of the gallery, and its place supplied from the brushes of the
artists whom Caroline viewed with loving respect; the drawing-room
was renovated, a forlorn old library resuscitated into vigorous life,
a museum fitted with shelves, drawers, and glass cases which Caroline
said would be as dangerous to the vigorous spirit of natural history
as new clothes to a Brownie, and a billiard and gun room were ceded
to the representations of Allen, who comported himself as befitted
the son and heir.
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