CHAPTER XXXVII.
The Verjoos house, of old red brick, stands about a hundred feet back from the north side of the Lake Road, on the south shore of the lake.
Since its original construction a _porte cochere_ has been built upon the front.

A very broad hall, from which rises the stairway with a double turn and landing, divides the main body of the house through the middle.

On the left, as one enters, is the great drawing room; on the right a parlor opening into a library; and beyond, the dining room, which looks out over the lake.

The hall opens in the rear upon a broad, covered veranda, facing the lake, with a flight of steps to a lawn which slopes down to the lake shore, a distance of some hundred and fifty yards.
John had to pass through a little flock of young people who stood near and about the entrance to the drawing room, and having given his package of music to the maid in waiting, with a request that it be put upon the piano, he mounted the stairs to deposit his hat and coat, and then went down.
In the south end of the drawing room were some twenty people sitting and standing about, most of them the elders of the families who constituted society in Homeville, many of whom John had met, and nearly all of whom he knew by sight and name.

On the edge of the group, and halfway down the room, were Mrs.Verjoos and her younger daughter, who gave him a cordial greeting; and the elder lady was kind enough to repeat her daughter's morning assurances of regret that they were out on the occasion of his call.
"I trust you have been as good as your word," said Miss Clara, "and brought some music." "Yes, it is on the piano," he replied, looking across the room to where the instrument stood.
The girl laughed.