“If we call the side of the house which is next the street the front, the main entrance must be at the east side, because we need the whole of the south side for our living rooms.  You know the view toward the southwest is the finest we shall have, especially from the chambers.”

“How do I know?  I didn’t climb the step-ladder.”

“And we must have a large bay window directly on that corner.  The hall must run through the house crosswise, with the stairs on the west side of the house.  As there is nothing to be seen in this direction except the white walls and green blinds of the parsonage, the windows on the stair-landing shall have stained glass.  The dining-room will be at the north side of the hall, with plenty of eastern windows, and behind that the kitchen with windows at opposite sides.  But you wouldn’t understand the beauty of my kitchen arrangements now.  By-and-by, when you are wiser, I will explain them.  Do you like a fireplace in the hall, Jack?”

“I don’t know as I do.  Do you?”

“Of course! certainly.”

“I shall be of all men most miserable without one.  Can’t we have two?”

“Perhaps so; but first let me read you Cousin Bessie’s letter: 

MY DEAREST JILL:  I’m perfectly delighted to hear about the new house.  It will be an immense success.  I know it will—­you are so wise and so practical.  How I shall enjoy visiting you!  It is delightful to build houses now.  Everybody thinks so much more of the beautiful than they used to.  Some of my friends have the loveliest rooms.  The tones are so harmonious, the decorations so exquisite!  Such sympathetic feeling and spiritual unity!  I wish you could see Kitty Kane’s hall.  It isn’t bigger than a bandbox, but there’s the cunningest little fireplace in one corner, with real antique andirons and the quaintest old Dutch tiles.  They never make a fire in it; couldn’t if they wanted to—­it smokes so.  But it is so lovely and gives the hall such a sweet expression.  You will forgive me, won’t you, Jill, dear? but you know you are so practical, and I do hope you won’t forget the esthetic needs of home life.  Your loving cousin, BET.”

“Let’s give up the hall fireplace,” said Jack.

[Illustration:  HEAT FROM ALL SIDES.]

“By no means; our hall is large and needs a fireplace—­one that will not smoke and will warm not only the hall in very cold weather, but the whole house when it isn’t quite cold enough for steam.  The sides and back will be of iron with an air-chamber behind them, into which fresh air will be brought from out of doors and come out well warmed at the sides.” (Jill’s idea was something like the above figure for the plan.)

“It will be a capital ventilator, too, for the centre of the house.  There will be a damper in the hearth to let the ashes down into the ash-pit.  I suppose a stove would answer, but this will be better because it won’t have to be blacked, and it will last as long as the house.”