She
has furnished her house almost entirely from sales, and she has the
loveliest things in the world--such ducks of tables, and jardinieres,
and things; and beautiful rare china--her house swarms with it--for an
old song. A sale is the place. And then so amusing."
"Yes, but," said Christopher, "I should not like my wife to encounter a
public room."
"Not alone, of course; but with me. La! Dr. Staines, they are too full
of buying and selling to trouble their heads about us."
"Oh, Christopher, do let me go with her. Am I always to be a child?"
Thus appealed to before a stranger, Staines replied warmly, "No,
dearest, no; you cannot please me better than by beginning life in
earnest. If you two ladies together can face an auction-room, go by all
means; only I must ask you not to buy china or ormulu, or anything that
will break or spoil, but only solid, good furniture."
"Won't you come with us?"
"No; or you might feel yourself in leading-strings. Remember the Bijou
is a small house; choose your furniture to fit it, and then we shall
save something by its being so small."
This was Wednesday. There was a weekly sale in Oxford Street on Fridays;
and the ladies made the appointment accordingly.
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