The proprietor went up to the paper, and tapped it.

It gave forth a wooden sound.
"Oak," he explained.

"All carved oak, right up to the ceiling, just the same as you saw on the staircase." "But, great Caesar! man," expostulated my friend; "you don't mean to say you have covered over carved oak with blue wall-paper ?" "Yes," was the reply: "it was expensive work.

Had to match-board it all over first, of course.

But the room looks cheerful now.