So, during the long, dreary days of midwinter, he and Sophia occupied themselves very pleasantly in selecting styles of furniture, and colors of draperies, and in arranging for a full suite of Oriental rooms, which were to perpetuate in pottery and lacquerware, Indian bronzes and mattings, Chinese screens and cabinets, the Anglo-Indian possessor of the old Cumberland estate.
Even pending these alterations, others were in progress.

Every family arrangement was changed in some respect.

The hour for breakfast had been fixed at what Julius called a civilized time.

This, of course, delayed every other meal; yet the servants, who had grumbled at over-work under the old authority, had not a complaint to make under the new.

For the present master and mistress of Sandal were not people who cared for complaints.