Olga laughed lightly, shook out the fringed ends of her broad white silk sash, and glanced in the mirror of the bureau, to see the effect.

“Regina, don’t begin city life by a system of starvation that would do infinite credit to a Thebaid anchorite.  Eat abundantly.  Take generous care of your body, for spiritual famine is inevitably ahead of you.  Yonder on the table, carefully covered, is your dinner.  Of course it is cold, stone-cold as this world’s charity; but people who sleep until eight o’clock, ought not to expect smoking hot viands.  A good meal gives one far more real philosophy and fortitude, than all the volumes Aristotle and Plato ever wrote.  Do you hear that bell?  It is a signal to attend the festival of Milcom.  Oh, Mammon I behold I come.”

She moved towards the door, and said from the threshold: 

“I say unto you—­eat.  Then come downstairs and amuse yourself looking about the house.  There are some interesting things in the parlours, and if you are musical, you will find a piano that cost one thousand dollars.  When I am away, there are no skeletons in this house, so you need not fear sleeping here alone.  My room is on the same floor.  Good-night.”

Refreshed by her sound sleep, Regina bathed her face, rearranged her hair, and ate the dinner, which although cold, was very temptingly prepared.  When Hattie came to carry down the silver tray containing the delicate green and gold china dishes, she complimented the stranger upon the improvement in her appearance, adding: 

“Miss Olga directed me to show you the house, and anything you might like to look at, so I lighted the palours and reception-room; and the library always has a fire, and the gas burning.  That is next to Mr. Palma’s bedroom, and is his special place.  He comes and goes so irregularly that we never can tell when he is in it.  Once last year he got home at nine o’clock unexpectedly, and sat up all night writing there in the cold.  Next morning he gave orders for fire and light in that room, whether he was at home or not.  Miss, if you don’t mind looking about yourself, I should like to run around to Eighth Avenue for a few minutes, to see my sick aunt.  Terry has gone out, and Mary promised to answer the bell, if any one called.  Farley says be easy about your dog; he had a hearty dinner of soup and meat, and is on a softer bed than some poor souls lie on to-night.  Can I go?”

“Certainly, I am not afraid; and when I get sleepy I will come up and go to bed.  When will Mrs. Palma and Miss Neville come home?”

“Not before midnight, if then.”

She explained to Regina how to elevate and extinguish the gas, and the two went down to the sitting-room, whence Hattie soon disappeared.  Raising the silk curtain that divided this apartment from the parlours, Regina walked slowly up and down upon the velvet carpet in which her feet seemed to sink, as on a bed of moss; and her eyes wandered admiringly over the gilded stands, gleaming bronzes, marble statuettes, papier mache, ormolu, silk, lace, brocatel, moquette, satin and silver which attracted her gaze.