A spacious, handsome, and tastefully furnished drawing room, decorated in dark
colours. In the back, a wide doorway with curtains drawn back, leading into a
smaller room decorated in the same style as the drawing-room. In the right-hand
wall of the front room, a folding door leading out to the hall. In the opposite wall,
on the left, a glass door, also with curtains drawn back. Through the panes can
be seen part of a verandah outside, and trees covered with autumn foliage. An
oval table, with a cover on it, and surrounded by chairs, stands well forward. In
front, by the wall on the right, a wide stove of dark porcelain, a high-backed arm-
chair, a cushioned foot-rest, and two footstools. A settee, with a small round table
in front of it, fills the upper right-hand corner. In front, on the left, a little way from
the wall, a sofa. Further back than the glass door, a piano. On either side of the
doorway at the back a whatnot with terra-cotta and majolica ornaments.-- Against
the back wall of the inner room a sofa, with a table, and one or two chairs. Over
the sofa hangs the portrait of a handsome elderly man in a General's uniform.
Over the table a hanging lamp, with an opal glass shade.--A number of bouquets
are arranged about the drawing-room, in vases and glasses. Others lie upon the
tables. The floors in both rooms are covered with thick carpets.--Morning light.
The sun shines in through the glass door.
MISS JULIANA TESMAN, with her bonnet on a carrying a parasol, comes in from
the hall, followed by BERTA, who carries a bouquet wrapped in paper. MISS
TESMAN is a comely and pleasant- looking lady of about sixty-five. She is nicely
but simply dressed in a grey walking-costume. BERTA is a middle-aged woman
of plain and rather countrified appearance.
[Stops close to the door, listens, and says softly:] Upon my word, I don't believe
they are stirring yet!
[Also softly.] I told you so, Miss. Remember how late the steamboat got in last
night. And then, when they got home!--good Lord, what a lot the young mistress
had to unpack before she could get to bed.
