She has had six weeks now to
arrange her plans, and next month I want to begin and put the house into
decent condition. I think I will write to London this afternoon, and
tell Jeffcott to send the polishers and painters on the 15th of March."
"Mother is so slow about things, I don't think she will be ready to move
so early."
"Oh, I really can't stand them any longer! I can't indeed, Sophia, and I
won't. I did not marry your mother and sister, nor yet buy them with the
place. Your mother has her recognized rights in the estate, and she has
a dower-house to which to retire; and the sooner she goes there now, the
better. You may tell her I say so."
"You may as well tell her yourself, Julius."
"Do you wish me to be insulted by your sister Charlotte again? It is
too bad to put me in such a position. I cannot punish two women, even
for such shameful innuendos as I had to take when she sat at the head of
the table. You ought to reflect, too, that the rooms they occupy are the
best rooms in the house,--the master's rooms. I am going to have the oak
walls polished, in order to bring out the carvings; and I think we will
choose green and white for the carpets and curtains. The present
furniture is dreadfully old-fashioned, and horribly full of old
memories."
"Well, then, I shall give mother to understand that we expect to make
these changes very soon."
"Depend upon it, the sooner your mother and Charlotte go to their own
house, the better for all parties.
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