Жовті шпалери

           Thefurnitureinthisroomisnoworsethaninharmonious,however,forwehadtobringitallfromdownstairs. Isupposewhenthiswasusedasaplayroomtheyhadtotakethenurserythingsout,andnowonder! Ineversawsuchravagesasthechildrenhavemadehere. 

           Thewall-paper,asIsaidbefore,istornoffinspots,anditstickethcloserthanabrother—theymusthavehadperseveranceaswellashatred. 

           Thenthefloorisscratchedandgougedandsplintered,theplasteritselfisdugouthereandthere,andthisgreatheavybedwhichisallwefoundintheroom,looksasifithadbeenthroughthewars. 

           ButIdon’tminditabit—onlythepaper. 

           TherecomesJohn’ssister. Suchadeargirlassheis,andsocarefulofme! Imustnotletherfindmewriting. 

           Sheisaperfectandenthusiastichousekeeper,andhopesfornobetterprofession. Iverilybelieveshethinksitisthewritingwhichmademesick! 

           ButIcanwritewhensheisout,andseeheralongwayofffromthesewindows. 

           Thereisonethatcommandstheroad,alovelyshadedwindingroad,andonethatjustlooksoffoverthecountry.Alovelycountry,too,fullofgreatelmsandvelvetmeadows. 

           Thiswall-paperhasakindofsub-patterninadifferentshade,aparticularlyirritatingone,foryoucanonlyseeitincertainlights,andnotclearlythen. 

           Butintheplaceswhereitisn’tfadedandwherethesunisjustso—Icanseeastrange,provoking,formlesssortoffigure,thatseemstoskulkaboutbehindthatsillyandconspicuousfrontdesign.