She saw that it was a hidden door
admitting to an elevator. She entered; the door closed; the
elevator ascended rapidly. When it came to a stop the door
opened and she was facing Brent.
"Thank you for coming," said he, with almost formal courtesy.
For all her sudden shyness, she cast a quick but seeing look
round. It was an overcast day; the soft floods of liquid
light--the beautiful light of her beloved City of the
Sun--poured into the big room through an enormous window of
clear glass which formed the entire north wall. Round the
other walls from floor almost to lofty ceiling were books in
solid rows; not books with ornamental bindings, but books for
use, books that had been and were being used. By way of
furniture there were an immense lounge, wide and long and
deep, facing the left chimney piece, an immense table desk
facing the north light, three great chairs with tall backs,
one behind the table, one near the end of the table, the third
in the corner farthest from the window; a grand piano, open,
with music upon its rack, and a long carved seat at its
keyboard. The huge window had a broad sill upon which was
built a generous window garden fresh and lively with bright
flowers. The woodwork, the ceiling, the furniture were of
mahogany. The master of this splendid simplicity was dressed
in a blue house suit of some summer material like linen.
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