He had eschewed the spindle-legged tables and fiddle-backed chairs of the former generations, and taken to solid masses of red mahogany, which were impressive to the village folk.

The carpet was a tapestry of great crimson roses with the like of which no other floor in town was covered, and, moreover, there was a glossy black stove instead of a hearth fire.
"Please be seated," said Mrs.Gordon.She indicated the best chair in the room.

When her guest had taken it, she sat down herself in the middle of her great haircloth sofa, and folded her long hands in her lap.

Mrs.Gordon had the extremest manners of the old New England gentlewoman--so punctiliously polite that they called attention to themselves.

She had married late in life, having been previously a preceptress in a young ladies' school.