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gorgeous bedroom； entered the little dressing…room； where he still slept on
the smallest of cots； with hastily improvised surroundings； as if he was a
bailiff in 〃possession。〃 He didn't linger here long； but； taking a key from
a drawer； continued up the staircase； to the ominous funeral marches of the
beating rain on the skylight； and paused on the landing to glance into his
son's and daughter's bedrooms； duplicates of the bizarre extravagance
below。 If he were seeking some characteristic traces of his absent family；
they certainly were not here in the painted and still damp blazoning of
their later successes。 He ascended another staircase； and； passing to the
wing of the house； paused before a small door； which was locked。
Already the ostentatious decorations of wall and passages were left behind；
and the plain lath…and…plaster partition of the attic lay before him。 He
unlocked the door； and threw it open。
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CHAPTER V
The apartment he entered was really only a lumber…room or loft over
the wing of the house； which had been left bare and unfinished； and which
revealed in its meagre skeleton of beams and joints the hollow sham of the
whole structure。 But in more violent contrast to the fresher glories of the
other part of the house were its contents； which were the heterogeneous
collection of old furniture； old luggage； and cast…off clothing； left over
from the past life in the old cabin。 It was a much plainer record of the
simple beginnings of the family than Mrs。 Mulrady cared to have remain
in evidence； and for that reason it had been relegated to the hidden
recesses of the new house； in the hope that it might absorb or digest it。
There were old cribs； in which the infant limbs of Mamie and Abner had
been tucked up； old looking…glasses； that had reflected their shining； soapy
faces； and Mamie's best chip Sunday hat； an old sewing…machine； that had
been worn out in active service； old patchwork quilts； an old accordion； to
whose long drawn inspirations Mamie had sung hymns； old pictures；
books； and old toys。 There were one or two old chromos； and； stuck in
an old frame； a colored print from the 〃Illustrated London News〃 of a
Christmas gathering in an old English country house。 He stopped and
picked up this print； which he had often seen before； gazing at it with a
new and singular interest。 He wondered if Mamie had seen anything of
this kind in England； and why couldn't he have had something like it here；
in their own fine house； with themselves and a few friends？ He
remembered a past Christmas； when he had bought Mamie that now
headless doll with the few coins that were left him after buying their frugal
Christmas dinner。 There was an old spotted hobby…horse that another
Christmas had brought to AbnerAbner； who would be driving a fast
trotter to…morrow at the Springs！ How everything had changed！ How
they all had got up in the world； and how far beyond this kind of thing
and yetyet it would have been rather comfortable to have all been
together again here。 Would THEY have been more comfortable？ No！
Yet then he might have had something to do； and been less lonely to…
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A MILLIONAIRE OF ROUGH…AND…READY
morrow。 What of that？ He HAD something to do： to look after this
immense fortune。 What more could a man want； or should he want？ It
was rather mean in him； able to give his wife and children everything they
wanted； to be wanting anything more。 He laid down the print gently；
after dusting its glass and frame with his silk handkerchief； and slowly left
the room。
The drum…beat of the rain followed him down the staircase； but he shut
it out with his other thoughts； when he again closed the door of his office。
He set diligently to work by the declining winter light； until he was
interrupted by the entrance of his Chinese waiter to tell him that supper
which was the meal that Mulrady religiously adhered to in place of the late
dinner of civilization was ready in the dining…room。 Mulrady
mechanically obeyed the summons； but on entering the room the oasis of a
few plates in a desert of white table…cloth which awaited him made him
hesitate。 In its best aspect； the high dark Gothic mahogany ecclesiastical
sideboard and chairs of this room； which looked like the appointments of a
mortuary chapel； were not exhilarating； and to… day； in the light of the
rain…filmed windows and the feeble rays of a lamp half…obscured by the
dark shining walls； it was most depressing。
〃You kin take up supper into my office；〃 said Mulrady； with a sudden
inspiration。 〃I'll eat it there。〃
He ate it there； with his usual healthy appetite； which did not require
even the stimulation of company。 He had just finished； when his Irish
cookthe one female servant of the housecame to ask permission to be
absent that evening and the next day。
〃I suppose the likes of your honor won't be at home on the Christmas
Day？ And it's me cousins from the old counthry at Rough… and…Ready
that are invitin' me。〃
〃Why don't you ask them over here？〃 said Mulrady； with another
vague inspiration。 〃I'll stand treat。〃
〃Lord preserve you for a jinerous gintleman！ But it's the likes of
them and myself that wouldn't be at home here on such a day。〃
There was so much truth in this that Mulrady checked a sigh as he
gave the required permission； without saying that he had intended to
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remain。 He could cook his own breakfast： he had done it before； and it
would be something to occupy him。 As to his dinner； perhaps he could
go to the hotel at Rough…and…Ready。 He worked on until the night had
well advanced。 Then； overcome with a certain restlessness that disturbed
him； he was forced to put his books a