And　when　the　houses　were　finished；　they　were　effective　and　arrestingquite　different　from　the　conventional　residences　of　the　street。　　They　were　separated　by　a　space　of　twenty　feet；　laid　out　as　greensward。　　The　architect　had　borrowed　somewhat　from　the　Tudor　school；　yet　not　so　elaborated　as　later　became　the　style　in　many　of　the　residences　in　Philadelphia　and　elsewhere。　　The　most　striking　features　were　rather　deep…recessed　doorways　under　wide；　low；　slightly　floriated　arches；　and　three　projecting　windows　of　rich　form；　one　on　the　second　floor　of　Frank's　house；　two　on　the　facade　of　his　father's。　　There　were　six　gables　showing　on　the　front　of　the　two　houses；　two　on　Frank's　and　four　on　his　father's。　　In　the　front　of　each　house　on　the　ground　floor　was　a　recessed　window　unconnected　with　the　recessed　doorways；　formed　by　setting　the　inner　external　wall　back　from　the　outer　face　of　the　building。　　This　window　looked　out　through　an　arched　opening　to　the　street；　and　was　protected　by　a　dwarf　parapet　or　balustrade。　　It　was　possible　to　set　potted　vines　and　flowers　there；　which　was　later　done；　giving　a　pleasant　sense　of　greenery　from　the　street；　and　to　place　a　few　chairs　there；　which　were　reached　via　heavily　barred　French　casements。
  On　the　ground　floor　of　each　house　was　placed　a　conservatory　of　flowers；　facing　each　other；　and　in　the　yard；　which　was　jointly　used；　a　pool　of　white　marble　eight　feet　in　diameter；　with　a　marble　Cupid　upon　which　jets　of　water　played。　　The　yard　which　was　enclosed　by　a　high　but　pierced　wall　of　green…gray　brick；　especially　burnt　for　the　purpose　the　same　color　as　the　granite　of　the　house；　and　surmounted　by　a　white　marble　coping　which　was　sown　to　grass　and　had　a　lovely；　smooth；　velvety　appearance。　　The　two　houses；　as　originally　planned；　were　connected　by　a　low；　green…columned　pergola　which　could　be　enclosed　in　glass　in　winter。
  The　rooms；　which　were　now　slowly　being　decorated　and　furnished　in　period　styles　were　very　significant　in　that　they　enlarged　and　strengthened　Frank　Cowperwood's　idea　of　the　world　of　art　in　general。　It　was　an　enlightening　and　agreeable　experienceone　which　made　for　artistic　and　intellectual　growthto　hear　Ellsworth　explain　at　length　the　styles　and　types　of　architecture　and　furniture；　the　nature　of　woods　and　ornaments　employed；　the　qualities　and　peculiarities　of　hangings；　draperies；　furniture　panels；　and　door　coverings。　　Ellsworth　was　a　student　of　decoration　as　well　as　of　architecture；　and　interested　in　the　artistic　taste　of　the　American　people；　which　he　fancied　would　some　day　have　a　splendid　outcome。　　He　was　wearied　to　death　of　the　prevalent　Romanesque　composite　combinations　of　country　and　suburban　villa。　　The　time　was　ripe　for　something　new。　　He　scarcely　knew　what　it　would　be；　but　this　that　he　had　designed　for　Cowperwood　and　his　father　was　at　least　different；　as　he　said；　while　at　the　same　time　being　reserved；　simple；　and　pleasing。　　It　was　in　marked　contrast　to　the　rest　of　the　architecture　of　the　street。　　Cowperwood's　dining…room；　reception…room；　conservatory；　and　butler's　pantry　he　had　put　on　the　first　floor；　together　with　the　general　entry…hall；　staircase；　and　coat…room　under　the　stairs。　　For　the　second　floor　he　had　reserved　the　library；　general　living…room；　parlor；　and　a　small　office　for　Cowperwood；　together　with　a　boudoir　for　Lillian；　connected　with　a　dressing…room　and　bath。
  On　the　third　floor；　neatly　divided　and　accommodated　with　baths　and　dressing…rooms；　were　the　nursery；　the　servants'　quarters；　and　several　guest…chambers。
  Ellsworth　showed　Cowperwood　books　of　designs　containing　furniture；　hangings；　etageres；　cabinets；　pedestals；　and　some　exquisite　piano　forms。　　He　discussed　woods　with　himrosewood；　mahogany；　walnut；　English　oak；　bird's…eye　maple；　and　the　manufactured　effects　such　as　ormolu；　marquetry；　and　Boule；　or　buhl。　　He　explained　the　latter　how　difficult　it　was　to　produce；　how　unsuitable　it　was　in　some　respects　for　this　climate；　the　brass　and　tortoise…shell　inlay　coming　to　swell　with　the　heat　or　damp；　and　so　bulging　or　breaking。　He　told　of　the　difficulties　and　disadvantages　of　certain　finishes；　but　finally　recommended　ormolu　furniture　for　the　reception　room；　medallion　tapestry　for　the　parlor；　French　renaissance　for　the　dining…room　and　library；　and　bird's…eye　maple　（dyed　blue　in　one　instance；　and　left　its　natural　color　in　another）　and　a　rather　lightly　constructed　and　daintily　carved　walnut　for　the　other　rooms。　The　hangings；　wall…paper；　and　floor　coverings　were　to　harmonize　not　matchand　the　piano　and　music…cabinet　for　the　parlor；　as　well　as　the　etagere；　cabinets；　and　pedestals　for　the　reception…rooms；　were　to　be　of　buhl　or　marquetry；　if　Frank　cared　to　stand　the　expense。
  Ellsworth　advised　a　triangular　pianothe　square　shapes　were　so　inexpressibly　wearisome　to　the　initiated。　　Cowperwood　listened　fascinated。　　He　foresaw　a　home　which　would　be　chaste；　soothing；　and　delightful　to　look　upon。　　If　he　hung　pictures；　gilt　frames　were　to　be　the　setting；　large　and　deep；　and　if　he　wished　a　picture…gallery；　the　library　could　be　converted　into　that；　and　the　general　living…room；　which　lay　between　the　library　and　the　parlor　on　the　second…floor；　could　be　turned　into　a　combination　library　and　living…room。　　This　was　eventually　done；　but　not　until　his　taste　for　pictures　had　considerably　advanced。
  It　was　now　that　he　began　to　take　a　keen　interest　in　objects　of　art；　pictures；　bronzes；　little　carvings　and　figurines；　for　his　cabinets；　pedestals；　tables；　and　etageres。　　Philadelphia　did　not　offer　much　that　was　distinguished　in　this　realmcertainly　not　in　the　open　market。　　There　were　many　private　houses　which　were　enriched　by　travel；　but　his　connection　with　the　best　families　was　as　yet　small。　　There　were　then　two　famous　American　sculptors；　Powers　and　Hosmer；　of　whose　work　he　had　examples；　but　Ellsworth　told　him　that　they　were　not　the　last　word　in　sculpture　and　that　he　should　look　into　the　merits　of　the　ancients。　　He　finally　secured　a　head　of　David；　by　Thorwaldsen；　which　delighted　him；　and　some　landscapes　by　Hunt；　Sully；　and　Hart；　which　seemed　somewhat　in　the　spirit　of　his　new　world。
  The　effect　of　a　house　of　this　character　on　its　owner　is　unmistakable。　We　think　we　are　individual；　separate；　above　houses　and　material　objects　generally；　but　there　is　a　subtle　connection　which　makes　them　reflect　us　quite　as　much　as　we　reflect　them。　　They　lend　dignity；　subtlety；　force；　each　to　the　other；　and　what　beauty；　or　lack　of　it；　there　is；　is　shot　back　and　forth　from　one　to　the　other　as　a　shuttle　in　a　loom；　weaving；　weaving。　　Cut　the　thread；　separate　a　man　from　that　which　is　rightfully　his　own；　characteristic　of　him；　and　you　have　a　peculiar　figure；　half　success；　half　failure；　much　as　a　spider　without　its　web；　which　will　never　be　its　whole　self　again　until　all　its　dignities　and　emoluments　are　restored。
  The　sight　of　his　new　house　going　up　made　Cowperwood　feel　of　more　weight　in　the　world；　and　the　possession　of　his　suddenly　achieved　connection　with　the　city　treasurer　was　as　though　a　wide　door　had　been　thrown　open　to　the　Elysian　fields　of　opportunity。　　He　rode　about　the　city　those　days　behind　a　team　of　spirited　bays；　whose　glossy　hides　and　metaled　harness　bespoke　the　watchful　care　of　hostler　and　coachman。　　Ellsworth　was　building　an　attractive　stable　in　the　little　side　street　back　of　the　houses；　for　the　joint　use　of　both　families。　　He　told　Mrs。　Cowperwood　that　he　intended　to　buy　her　a　victoriaas　the　low；　open；　four…wheeled　coach　was　then　known　as　soon　as　they　were　well　settled　in　their　new　home；　and　that　they　were　to　go　out　more。　　There　was　some　talk　about　the　value　of　entertainingthat　he　would　have　to　reach　out　socially　for　certain　individuals　who　were　not　now　known　to　him。　　Together　with　Anna；　his　sister；　and　his　two　brothers；　Joseph　and　Edward；　they　could　use　the　two　houses　jointly。　　There　was　no　reason　why　Anna　should　not　make　a　splendid　match。　　Joe　and　Ed　might　marry　well；　since　they　were　not　destined　to　set　the　world　on　fire　in　commerce。　　At　least　it　would　not　hurt　them　to　try。
  〃Don't　you　think　you　will　like　that？〃　he　asked　his　wife；　referring　to　his　plans　for　entertaining。
  She　smiled　wanly。　〃I　suppose　so；〃　she　said。
  Chapter　XVI
  It　was　not　long　after　the　arrangement　between　Treasurer　Stener　and　Cowperwood　had　been　made　that　the　machinery　for　the　carrying　out　of　that　political…financial　relationship　was　put　in　motion。　The　sum　of　two　hundred　and　ten　thousand　dollars　in　six　per　cent。　interest…bearing　certificates；　payable　in　ten　years；　was　set　over　to　the　credit　of　Cowperwood　&　Co。　on　the　books　of　the　city；　subject　to　his　order。　　Then；　with　proper　listing；　he　began　to　offer　it　in　small　amounts　at　more　than　ninety；　at　the　same　time　creating　the　impression　that　it　was　going　to　be　a　prosperous　investment。　　The　certificates　gradually　rose　and　were　unloaded　in　rising　amounts　until　one　hundred　was　reached；　when　all　the　two　hundred　thousand　dollars'　worthtwo　thousand　certificates　in　allwas　fed　out　in　small　lots。　　Stener　was　satisfied。　　Two　hundred　shares　had　been　carried　for　him　and　sold　at　one　hundred；　which　netted　him　two　thousand　dollars。　　It　was　illegitimate　gain；　unethical；　but　his　conscience　was　not　very　much　troubled　by　that。　　He　had　none；　truly。　He　saw　visions　of　a　halcyon　future。
  It　is　difficult　to　make　perf