a simpleton-第18章
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disappointed； and half inclined to pout。 But she vented her
feelings in a letter to her beloved Florry； and appeared at dinner
as sweet as usual。
During dinner a note came from the agent； accepting Dr。 Staine's
offer。 He glozed the matter thus： he had persuaded the owner it
was better to take a good tenant at a moderate loss； than to let
the Bijou be uninhabited during the present rainy season。 An
assignment of the leasewhich contained the usual covenantswould
be prepared immediately； and Dr。 Staines could have possession in
forty…eight hours； by paying the premium。
Rosa was delighted； and as soon as dinner was over； and the waiters
gone； she came and kissed Christopher。
He smiled； and said； 〃Well； you are pleased； that is the principal
thing。 I have saved two hundred pounds； and that is something。 It
will go towards furnishing。〃
〃La！ yes；〃 said Rosa； 〃I forgot。 We shall have to get furniture
now。 How nice！〃 It was a pleasure the man of forecast could have
willingly dispensed with； but he smiled at her； and they discussed
furniture； and Christopher； whose retentive memory had picked up a
little of everything； said there were wholesale upholsterers in the
City who sold cheaper than the West…end houses； and he thought the
best way was to measure the rooms in the Bijou； and go to the city
with a clear idea of what they wanted； ask the prices of various
necessary articles； and then make a list； and demand a discount of
fifteen per cent on the whole order； being so considerable； and
paid for in cash。
Rosa acquiesced； and told Christopher he was the cleverest man in
England。
About nine o'clock Mrs。 Cole came in to condole with her friend；
and heard the good news。 When Rosa told her how they thought of
furnishing； she said； 〃Oh no； you must not do that； you will pay
double for everything。 That is the mistake Johnnie and I made； and
after that a friend of mine took me to the auction…rooms； and I saw
everything soldoh； such bargains； half； and less than half； their
value。 She has furnished her house almost entirely from sales； and
she has the loveliest things in the worldsuch ducks of tables；
and jardinieres； and things； and beautiful rare chinaher house
swarms with itfor 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。
Next day； after breakfast； Christopher was silent and thoughtful
awhile； and at last said to Rosa； 〃I'll show you I don't look on
you as a child； I'll consult you in a delicate matter。〃
Rosa's eyes sparkled。
〃It is about my Uncle Philip。 He has been very cruel； he has
wounded me deeply； he has wounded me through my wife。 I never
thought he would refuse to come to our marriage。〃
〃And did he？ You never showed me his letter。〃
〃You were not my wife then。 I kept an affront from you； but now；
you see； I keep nothing。〃
〃Dear Christie！〃
〃I am so happy； I have got over that stingalmost； and the memory
of many kind acts comes back to me； and I don't know what to do。
It seems ungrateful not to visit himit seems almost mean to
call。〃
〃I'll tell you； take me to see him directly。 He won't hate us
forever； if he sees us often。 We may as well begin at once。
Nobody hates me long。〃
Christopher was proud of his wife's courage and wisdom。 He kissed
her； begged her to put on the plainest dress she could； and they
went together to call on Uncle Philip。
When they got to his house in Gloucester Place； Portman Square；
Rosa's heart began to quake； and she was right glad when the
servant said 〃Not at home。〃
They left their cards and address； and she persuaded Christopher to
take her to the sale…room to see the things。
A lot of brokers were there； like vultures； and one after another
stepped forward and pestered them to employ him in the morning。
Dr。 Staines declined their services civilly but firmly； and he and
Rosa looked over a quantity of furniture； and settled what sort of
things to buy。
Another broker came up； and whenever the couple stopped before an
article； proceeded to praise it as something most extraordinary。
Staines listened in cold； satirical silence； and told his wife； in
French； to do the same。 Notwithstanding their marked disgust； the
impudent； intrusive fellow stuck to them； and forced his venal
criticism on them； and made them uncomfortable； and shortened their
tour of observation。
〃I think I shall come with you to…morrow；〃 said Christopher； 〃or I
shall have these blackguards pestering you。〃
〃Oh； Florry will send them to the right…about。 She is as brave as
a lion。〃
Next day Dr。 Staines was sent for into the City at twelve to pay
the money and receive the lease of the Bijou； and this and the
taking possession occupied him till four o'clock； when he came to
his hotel。
Meantime； his wife and Mrs。 Cole had gone to the auction…room。
It was a large room； with a good sprinkling of people； but not
crowded except about the table。 At the head of this tablefull
twenty feet longwas the auctioneer's pulpit； and the lots were
brought in turn to the other end of the table for sight and sale。
〃We must try and get a seat；〃 said the enterprising Mrs。 Cole； and
pushed boldly in； the timid Rosa followed strictly in her wake； and
so evaded the human waves her leader clove。 They were importuned
at every step by brokers thrusting catalogues on them； with offers
of their services； yet they soon got to the table。 A gentleman
resigned one chair； a broker another； and they were seated。
Mrs。 Staines let down half her veil； but Mrs。 Cole surveyed the
company point…blank。
The broker who had given up his seat； and now stood behind Rosa；
offered her his catalogue。 〃No； thank you；〃 said Rosa； 〃I have
one；〃 and she produced it； and studied it； yet managed to look
furtively at the company。
There were not above a dozen private persons visible from where
Rosa sat； perhaps as many more in the whole room。 They were easily
distinguishable by their cleanly appearance： the dealers； male or
female； were more or less rusty； greasy； dirty； aquiline。 Not even
the amateurs were brightly dressed； that fundamental error was
confined to Mesdames Cole and Staines。 The experienced； however
wealthy； do not hunt bargains in silk and satin。
The auctioneer called 〃Lot 7。 Four saucepans； two trays； a kettle；
a bootjack； and a towel…horse。〃
These were put up at two shillings； and speedily knocked down for
five to a fat old woman in a greasy velvet jacket； blind industry
had sewed bugles on it； not artfully； but agriculturally。
〃The lady on the left！〃 said the auctioneer to his clerk。 That
meant 〃Get the money。〃
The old lady plunged a huge paw into a huge pocket； and pulled out
a huge handful of coincopper； silver； and goldand paid for the
lot； and Rosa surveyed her dirty hands and nails with innocent
dismay。 〃Oh； what a dreadful creature！〃 she whispered； 〃and what
can she want with those old rubbishy things？ I saw a hole in one
from here。〃 The broker overheard； and said； 〃She is a dealer；
ma'am； and the things were given away。 She'll sell them for a
guinea； easy。〃
〃Didn't I tell you？〃 said Mrs。 Cole。
Soon after this the superior lots came on； and six very neat
bedroom chairs were sold to all appearance for
