to trace them. But it all happened, and Lapham promptly developed his ideas of black walnut finish, high studding, and cornices. The architect was able to conceal the shudder which they must have sent through him. He was skilful, as nearly all architects are, in playing upon that simple instrument Man. He began to touch Colonel Lapham's stops. 

 "Oh, certainly, have the parlours high-studded. But you've seen some of those pretty old-fashioned country-houses, haven't you, where the entrance-story is very low-studded?" "Yes," Lapham assented. 

 "Well, don't you think something of that kind would have a very nice effect? Have the entrance-story low-studded, and your parlours on the next floor as high as you please. Put your little reception-room here beside the door, and get the whole width of your house frontage for a square hall, and an easy low-tread staircase running up three sides of it. I'm sure Mrs. Lapham would find it much pleasanter." The architect caught toward him a scrap of paper lying on the table at which they were sitting and sketched his idea.  "Then have your dining-room behind the hall, looking on the water." 

 He glanced at Mrs. Lapham, who said, "Of course," and the architect went on-- 

 "That gets you rid of one of those long, straight, ugly staircases,"--until that moment Lapham had thought a long, straight staircase the chief ornament of a house,--"and gives you an effect of amplitude and space." 

 "That's so!" said Mrs. Lapham. Her husband merely made a noise in his throat. 

 "Then, were you thinking of having your parlours together, connected by folding doors?" asked the architect deferentially. 

 "Yes, of course," said Lapham.  "They're always so, ain't they?" 

 "Well, nearly," said the architect.  "I was wondering how would it do to make one large square room at the front, taking the whole breadth of the house, and, with this hall-space between, have a music-room back for the young ladies?" 

 Lapham looked helplessly at his wife, whose quicker apprehension had followed the architect's pencil with instant sympathy.  "First-rate!" she cried. 

 The Colonel gave way.  "I guess that would do. It'll be kind of odd, won't it?" 

 "Well, I don't know," said the architect.  "Not so odd, I hope, as the other thing will be a few years 

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