Possiblyathome,butofacertaintyimpossibleforhand-maidtoanticipateintentionsofMissPross,astoadmissionordenialofthefact.
`AsIamathomemyself,\'saidMr.Lorry,`I\'llgoup-stairs.\'
AlthoughtheDoctor\'sdaughterhadknownnothingofthecountryofherbirth,sheappearedtohaveinnatelyderivedfromitthatabilitytomakemuchoflittlemeans,whichisoneofitsmostusefulandmostagreeablecharacteristics.Simpleasthefurniturewas,itwassetoffbysomanylittleadornments,ofnovaluebutfortheirtasteandfancy,thatitseffectwasdelightful.Thedispositionofeverythingintherooms,fromthelargestobjecttotheleast;thearrangementofcolours,theelegantvarietyandcontrastobtainedbythriftintrifles,bydelicatehands,cleareyes,andgoodsense;wereatoncesopleasantinthemselves,andsoexpressiveoftheiroriginator,that,asMr.Lorrystoodlookingabouthim,theverychairsandtablesseemedtoaskhim,withsomethingofthatpeculiarexpressionwhichheknewsowellbythistime,whetherheapproved?
Therewerethreeroomsonafloor,and,thedoorsbywhichtheycommunicatedbeingputopenthattheairmightpassfreelythroughthemall,Mr.Lorry,smilinglyobservantofthatfancifulresemblancewhichhedetectedallaroundhim,walkedfromonetoanother.Thefirstwasthebestroom,andinitwereLucie\'sbirds,andflowers,andbooks,anddesk,andwork-table,andboxofwater-colours;thesecondwastheDoctor\'sconsulting-room,usedalsoasthedining-room;thethird,changinglyspeckledbytherustleoftheplane-treeintheyard,wastheDoctor\'sbedroom,andthere,inacorner,stoodthedisusedshoemaker\'sbenchandtrayoftools,muchasithadstoodonthefifthfloorofthedismalhousebythewine-shop,inthesuburbofSaintAntoineinParis.
`Iwonder,\'saidMr.Lorry,pausinginhislookingabout,`thathekeepsthatreminderofhissufferingsabouthim!\'