the little chamber.

"Oh, how fine it is, how lovely!" exclaimed Cornelli, running, full
of admiration, from one corner to the other. Martha had in truth fixed
it so daintily that it looked extremely pleasing. Around the windows
she had arranged curtains of some thin white material with tiny blue
flowers, and the same material had been used to cover an old wooden
case. This she had fixed as a dainty washstand. The bed and two old
chairs were likewise covered; the whole effect was very cheerful and
inviting.

"Oh, how pretty!" Cornelli exclaimed over and over again. "How could
you ever do it, Martha, or have so much money?"

"Oh no, no, it was not much, but just enough for the bed and a little
piece of material. I got the stuff very cheap, because it was a remnant.
So you really do not think it is bad, child? Do you think that somebody
would like to live here?" Martha was examining every object she had
so carefully worked over.

"Yes, of course, Martha, you can believe me," Cornelli replied
reassuringly. "I should just love to come right away, if I did not
live here already. But now I shall write, for I know exactly what I
shall say." Cornelli, running down stairs, dipped her pen into the ink
and began to write.

"But do not forget to say that it is in the country, and tell the name
of the place here, so that they can find me," said Martha, fearing she
had set Cornelli a very difficult task.