"We will rearrange the room.

Bring that sofa from the far corner to the other side of this window, and put the tea-table in front of it.

Put two chairs where the sofa was; arrange the other chairs--" And she indicated the places with her staff.
While the room was still in confusion Mrs.Severence entered.

"What is it, Mamma ?" she asked.
"Simply trying to make this frightful room a little less frightful." "Don't you think the pictures should be rehung to suit the new arrangement, ma'am ?" suggested Arkwright.
Madam Bowker, suspicious of jest, looked sharply at him.

He seemed serious.