Мидлмарч

           ThisIhaveinmyhandisaningeniouscontrivance—asortofpracticalrebus,Imaycallit:here,yousee,itlookslikeanelegantheart-shapedbox,portable—forthepocket;there,again,itbecomeslikeasplendiddoubleflower—anornamentforthetable;andnow"—Mr.Trumbullallowedtheflowertofallalarminglyintostringsofheart-shapedleaves—"abookofriddles!Nolessthanfivehundredprintedinabeautifulred.Gentlemen,ifIhadlessofaconscience,Ishouldnotwishyoutobidhighforthislot—Ihavealongingforitmyself.Whatcanpromoteinnocentmirth,andImaysayvirtue,morethanagoodriddle?—ithindersprofanelanguage,andattachesamantothesocietyofrefinedfemales.Thisingeniousarticleitself,withouttheelegantdomino-box,card-basket,&c.,oughtalonetogiveahighpricetothelot.Carriedinthepocketitmightmakeanindividualwelcomeinanysociety.Fourshillings,sir?—fourshillingsforthisremarkablecollectionofriddleswiththeetcaeteras.Hereisasample:‘Howmustyouspellhoneytomakeitcatchlady-birds?Answer—money.’Youhear?—lady-birds—honeymoney.Thisisanamusementtosharpentheintellect;ithasasting—ithaswhatwecallsatire,andwitwithoutindecency.Four-and-sixpence—fiveshillings."

           Thebiddingranonwithwarmingrivalry.Mr.Bowyerwasabidder,andthiswastooexasperating.Bowyercouldn’taffordit,andonlywantedtohindereveryothermanfrommakingafigure.ThecurrentcarriedevenMr.