The largest of the flower-stands was placed in the middle of the room, and above it hung a porcelain chandelier designed with wreaths of flowers.
The bed on which the old man's daughter lay was one of those beautiful white and gold carved bedsteads such as were made in the Louis XV.
period.By the sick woman's pillow was a very pretty marquetry table, on which were the various articles necessary to this bedridden life.
Against the wall was a bracket lamp with two branches, either of which could be moved forward or back by a mere touch of the hand.A small table, adapted to the use of the invalid, extended in front of her.
The bed, covered with a beautiful counterpane, and draped with curtains held back by cords, was heaped with books, a work-basket, and articles of embroidery, beneath which Godefroid would scarcely have distinguished the sick woman herself had it not been for the light of the bracket lamps.
There was nothing of her to be seen but a face of extreme whiteness, browned around the eyes by suffering, in which shone eyes of fire, its principal adornment being a magnificent mass of black hair, the numerous heavy curls of which, carefully arranged, showed that the dressing of those beautiful locks occupied a good part of the invalid's morning.This supposition was further strengthened by the portable mirror which lay on the bed.
No modern arrangement for comfort was lacking.Even a few knick-knacks, which amused poor Vanda, proved that the father's love was almost fanatical.
The old man rose from an elegant Louis XV.sofa in white and cold, covered with tapestry, and advanced to Godefroid, who would certainly not have recognized him elsewhere; for that cold, stern face now wore the gay expression peculiar to old men of the world, who retain the manners and apparent frivolity of the nobility about a court.His wadded violet gown was in keeping with this luxury, and he took snuff from a gold box studded with diamonds.