"Laws'ee, Mis' James! Ef dey hain't gone an' nailed a brass knock on dis doah!" exclaimed Rachel, dropping her burdens on the mat and staring up at the quaint old knocker that had been fastened to the Colonial door since their last visit.
When the door was thrown open, Natalie had a glimpse of the inside--now furnished and most attractive. She followed Mrs. James and Rachel indoors and clapped her hands in pleasure.
"How perfectly lovely, Jimmy! Who would have dreamed that the dusty old place would look like this with a few pieces of furniture and a good clean-up of the rooms."
"I swan!" breathed Rachel, in admiration, as she noted the braided rag rugs on the hall floor, the Colonial mirror on the wall, and the hall-table with drop-leaves flanked on either side by two straight backed rush-bottom chairs.
"It's almos' as fine as dem ole manor houses in Norf Car'liny. I ust to be nuss-maid in one on 'em befoh I come Norf," was her final appraisal of the inside of the house.
Every nook and corner had been scoured until the entire house smelled of cleanliness. Then the antique furniture that had been discovered in the attic had been cleaned and polished until no one would have said they were the same old objects.
Mr. Marvin had selected enough braided and carpet-rag rugs for the floors as would look artistic without covering up much of the fine old oak-flooring of great wide boards. Simple cottage draperies hung at the old-fashioned windows, and the personal effects belonging to Natalie were so arranged as to give the entire interior a homey look. It was a cheerful home for a forlorn little orphan, and she felt the atmosphere of the place instantly.
Rachel had gone directly to the kitchen after she left the others in the hall, and now she was heard exclaiming delightedly: "Oh, Mis' James--an' Honey darlin'! Come right out to my place an' see how fine I am!"
They hurried out through the pantry and were surprised to find what a great improvement had been made in the large kitchen, with plenty of white enamel paint, new porcelain sink and table, and a fine modern range. Even the chairs and cupboards were glistening white, and white dotted swiss sash curtains hung at the four large windows.