But if there HAD been beautiful wives hanging up by their hair all round the walls I do n't believe Mrs. Griggs could have been much more astonished . The room had never been furnished in his mother 's time , but now it was ELEGANTLY furnished , though Mrs. Griggs says SHE does n't know when or how that furniture was brought there . She says she never saw a room like it in a country farmhouse . It was like a bed-room and sitting-room combined . The floor was covered with a carpet like green velvet . There were fine lace curtains at the windows and beautiful pictures on the walls . There was a little white bed , and a dressing-table , a bookcase full of books , a stand with a work basket on it , and a rocking-chair . There was a woman 's picture above the bookcase . Mrs. Griggs says she thinks it was a coloured photograph , but she did n't know who it was . Anyway , it was a very pretty girl . But the most amazing thing of all was that A WOMAN 'S DRESS was hanging over a chair by the table . Mrs. Griggs says it NEVER belonged to Jasper Dale 's mother , for she thought it a sin to wear anything but print and drugget ; and this dress was of PALE BLUE silk . Besides that , there was a pair of blue satin slippers on the floor beside it -- HIGH-HEELED slippers . And on the fly-leaves of the books the name ` Alice ' was written . Now , there never was an Alice in the Dale connection and nobody ever heard of the Awkward Man having a sweetheart . There , is n't that a lovely mystery ? '' `` It 's a pretty queer yarn , '' said Felix . `` I wonder if it is true -- and what it means . '' `` I intend to find out what it means , '' said the Story Girl . `` I am going to get acquainted with the Awkward Man sometime , and then I 'll find out his Alice-secret . ''
`` I do n't see how you 'll ever get acquainted XXXXX him , '' said Felicity .
Besides above at for if in of on that with