Presently up
went a very neat little table. I gave a nod and got it
for nine shillings. Then three rather striking looking
chairs, black wood and cane bottoms. Four shillings each
I gave for those. Then a metal umbrella-stand, four and
sixpence. That was a mere luxury, but I was warming to
the work. A job lot of curtains all tied together
in a bundle went up. Somebody bid five shillings. The
auctioneer's eye came round to me, and I nodded. Mine
again for five and sixpence. Then I bought a square of
red drugget for half-a-crown, a small iron bed for nine
shillings, three watercolour paintings, "Spring," "The
Banjo Player," and "Windsor Castle," for five shillings;
a tiny fender, half-a-crown; a toilet set, five
shillings; another very small square-topped table, three
and sixpence. Whenever I bid for anything, Whitehall
thrust his black-thorn up into the air, and presently I
found him doing so on my behalf when I had no intention
of buying. I narrowly escaped having to give fourteen
and sixpence for a stuffed macaw in a glass case.
"It would do to hang in your hall, Dr. Munro, sir,"
said he when I remonstrated with him.
"I should have to hang myself in my hall soon if I
spent my money like that," said I. "I've got as much as
I can afford now, and I must stop."
When the auction was over, I paid my bill and had my
goods hoisted on to a trolly, the porter undertaking
to deliver them for two shillings.
Pages:
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214