Never had she seen or dreamed of a room like this.

She grasped no details; her bewildered eyes saw them all melting into each other, combining newly and vanishing like kaleidoscopic pictures--folds and gleaming stretches of crimson damask and velvet, the dark polish of precious woods, spots and arabesques of gold and the satin shimmer of wall-paper, lights and shades of steel engravings, and elegant and graceful lady-treasures of gilded books and work-boxes and vases on shelf and tables.

There was even a little piano, the only one in the village, with slender, fluted legs, and a mother-of-pearl garland over the key-board.
"I have had this all newly furnished for you.

I hope it may please you," said Lot; and he looked at Madelon with hollow, wistful eyes.
That brought her to herself.

"It is very pretty," she replied, and turned away.
Lot sighed.