Dockwrath,' said Mr. Kantwise, 'a really wonderful woman; no particular friend of yours I think you say?'
'None in the least, Mr. Kantwise.'
'Then I may make bold to assert that for persevering sharpness she beats all that I ever met, even in Yorkshire;' and Mr. Kantwise looked at his new friend over his shoulder, and shook his head as though lost in wonder and admiration. 'What do you think she's done now?'
'She didn't give you much to eat, I take it.'
'Much to eat! I'll tell you what it is, Mr. Dockwrath; my belief is that that woman would have an absolute pleasure in starving a Christian; I do indeed. I'll tell you what she has done; she has made me put her up a set of them things at twelve, seventeen, six! I needn't tell you that they were never made for the money.'
'Why, then, did you part with them at a loss?'
'Well; that's the question. I was soft, I suppose. She got round me, badgering me, till I didn't know where I was. She wanted them as a present for the curate's wife, she said. Whatever should induce her to make a present!'
'She got them for twelve, seventeen, six; did she?' said Dockwrath, thinking that it might be as well to remember this, if he should feel inclined to make a purchase himself.
'But they was strained, Mr. Dockwrath; I must admit they was strained,—particularly the loo.'
'You had gone through your gymnastics on it a little too often?' asked the attorney. But this Mr. Kantwise would not acknowledge. The strength of that table was such that he could stand on it for ever without injury to it; but nevertheless, in some other way it had become strained, and therefore he had sold the set to Mrs. Mason for 12l. 17s. 6d., that lady being minded to make a costly present to the wife of the curate of Groby.
When dinner-time came Mr. Dockwrath found that the party was swelled to the number of eight, five other undoubted commercials having brought themselves to anchor at the Bull Inn during the day. To all of these Mr. Kantwise introduced him. 'Mr. Gape, Mr. Dockwrath,' said he, gracefully moving towards them the palm of his hand, and eyeing them over his shoulder. 'Mr. Gape is in the stationery line,' he added, in a whisper to the attorney, 'and does for Cumming and Jibber of St. Paul's Churchyard. Mr. Johnson, Mr. Dockwrath. Mr. J. is from Sheffield. Mr. Snengkeld, Mr. Dockwrath;' and then he imparted in another whisper the necessary information as to Mr. Snengkeld. 'Soft goods, for Brown Brothers, of Snow Hill,' and so on through the whole fraternity. Each member bowed as his name was mentioned; but they did not do so very graciously, as Mr. Kantwise was not a great man among them. Had the stranger been introduced to them by
