It was a
remnant reduced to ten cents a roll,--the whole thing was less than four
dollars. You can call it your Christmas present from me, if you like, and
I shall 'play' besides that the other paper had arsenic in it; I'm sure it
looked as if it had, and corrosive sublimate, too."
Clover laughed outright. It was so funny to hear Katy's fertility of
excuse.
"You dear, ridiculous darling!" she said, giving her sister a good hug;
"it was just like you, and though I scold I am perfectly delighted. I did
hate that paper with all my heart, and this is lovely. It makes the room
look like a different thing."
Other benefactions followed. Polly, it appeared, had bought more Indian
curiosities in Denver than she knew what to do with, and begged permission
to leave a big bear-skin and two wolf-skins with Clover for the winter,
and a splendid striped Navajo blanket as a portiere to keep off draughts
from the entry. Katy had set herself up in California blankets while they
were in San Francisco, and she now insisted on leaving a pair behind, and
loaning Clover besides one of two beautiful Japanese silk pictures which
Ned had given her, and which made a fine spot of color on the pretty new
wall. There were presents in her trunks for all at home, and Ned had sent
Clover a beautiful lacquered box.
Somehow Clover seemed like a new and doubly-interesting Clover to Katy.
She was struck by the self-reliance which had grown upon her, by her
bright ways and the capacity and judgment which all her arrangements
exhibited; and she listened with delight to Mrs.
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