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Only one thing made a litter, or tried to; a yellow canary that hung in the window and sang "like a house afire," as Aunt Hoskins said, however that is, and flung his seeds about like the old "Wash at Edmonton," "on both sides of the way." Prissy was turned out of doors in all pleasant weather, so otherwise the keeping-room stayed trim, and her curly hair grew sunburnt.
Being suitable for Halls, staircases, or other Passage ways, at the Glass Shop in Queen Street." This advertisement is, however, exceptional. The hall in Puritan houses was not a passageway, it was the living-room, the keeping-room, the dwelling-room, the sitting-room; in it the family sat and ate their meals in, it they lived.
There was a good-sized kitchen-garden behind, and the farm-yard was at the side by the back door. The house is old and therefore was handsome outside, even then, but the chief of the lower story was comprised in one big room, a "keeping-room," as it was called, with an open chimney, screened by a settle, and with a long polished table, with a bench on either side.
One day, near the close of November, the deacon and his niece were alone together in the "keeping-room," as it was, if it be not still, the custom among persons of New England origin to call the ordinary sitting-apartment, he bolstered up in an easy-chair, on account of increasing infirmities, and she plying the needle in her customary way.
Coffin had reached the door of the "keeping-room" as the widow concluded her last remark; but pausing, with his thumb upon the latch, he turned, and, looking over his shoulder, whispered, with an emphatic nod, "Fact is, Miss Janes, there a'n't sich a great many women jest like Miss Coffin." "There a'n't no two ways about that," murmured Miss Janes, assentingly, as the door was thrown open.
Before supper, however, she wanted to consult Master Drury about protecting Dame Coppins from the village mob, and as soon as Cavalier had been left to Roger she went in search of that gentleman. But he was not in the study or the keeping-room, and thinking he must have gone out with Captain Stanhope, she went into the garden to watch for his return.
On the beautiful May mornings, and during the long "after tea," which always comes into country-life, I could watch them, watch her, from my window, while the planting, watering, and weeding went on in the flower-garden. I saw them go in at dark, saw the light appear in the keeping-room, and fancied them sitting at their work, wondering, perhaps, that nobody came to read to them.
Clayton had some difficulty in keeping Harry outside the house, whither they had retreated when he heard that Maud was ill; but thinking that his presence would only add to the confusion in the keeping-room if he went in again, he prevailed upon him to remain where he was until Master Drury came out and fetched them both into the study.
Take the bags right upstairs, Isaphiny; and put them in the keeping-room chamber. How's your pa, Elsie, and Katy? Not laid up again, I hope." "Oh, no; she seems to get better all the time." "That's right," responded Mrs. Worrett, heartily.
A dignified shiver pervaded Mrs Wilfer's shoulders and gloves, as who should say, 'An Enigma! and then she marched at the head of the procession to the family keeping-room, where she observed: 'Unless, R. W.: who started on being solemnly turned upon: 'you have taken the precaution of making some addition to our frugal supper on your way home, it will prove but a distasteful one to Bella.
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