Мидлмарч

           Gentlemen,here’safenderthatifyouhadthemisfortunetohangyourselveswouldcutyoudowninnotime—withastonishingcelerity—four-and-sixpence—five—five-and-sixpence—anappropriatethingforasparebedroomwheretherewasafour-posterandaguestalittleoutofhismind—sixshillings—thankyou,Mr.Clintup—goingatsixshillings—going—gone!"Theauctioneer’sglance,whichhadbeensearchingroundhimwithapreternaturalsusceptibilitytoallsignsofbidding,heredroppedonthepaperbeforehim,andhisvoicetoodroppedintoatoneofindifferentdespatchashesaid,"Mr.Clintup.Behandy,Joseph."

           "Itwasworthsixshillingstohaveafenderyoucouldalwaystellthatjokeon,"saidMr.Clintup,laughinglowandapologeticallytohisnextneighbor.Hewasadiffidentthoughdistinguishednurseryman,andfearedthattheaudiencemightregardhisbidasafoolishone.

           MeanwhileJosephhadbroughtatrayfulofsmallarticles."Now,ladies,"saidMr.Trumbull,takinguponeofthearticles,"thistraycontainsaveryrecherchylot—acollectionoftriflesforthedrawing-roomtable—andtriflesmakethesumOFhumanthings—nothingmoreimportantthantrifles—(yes,Mr.Ladislaw,yes,by-and-by)—butpassthetrayround,Joseph—thesebijouxmustbeexamined,ladies.