ttle
on this one now, that ends the matter. (Put those others away, Miss
Circumstance, please, and mark this one sold.) I feel sure you'll like
her, sir, when you get her home. Thank YOU, sir. Good-morning!"

"Now, miss, have YOU seen anything you fancy? YES, miss, this is all
we have at anything near your price. (Shut those other cupboards, Miss
Circumstance; never show more stock than you are obliged to, it only
confuses customers. How often am I to tell you that?) YES, miss, you are
quite right, there IS a slight blemish. They all have some slight flaw.
The makers say they can't help it--it's in the material. It's not once
in a season we get a perfect specimen; and when we do ladies don't seem
to care for it. Most of our customers prefer a little faultiness. They
say it gives character. Now, look at this, miss. This sort of thing
wears very well, warm and quiet. You'd like one with more colour in it?
Certainly. Miss Circumstance, reach me down the art patterns. NO, miss,
we don't guarantee any of them over the year, so much depends on how you
use them. OH YES, miss, they'll stand a fair amount of wear. People do
tell you the quieter patterns last longer; but my experience is that one
is much the same as another. There's really no telling any of them until
you come to try them. We never recommend one more than another. There's
a lot of chance about these goods, it's in the nature of them. What I
always say to ladies is--'Please yourself, it's you who have got to wear
it; and it's no good having an article you start by not liking.' YES,
miss, it IS pretty and it looks well against you: it does indeed. Thank
you, miss. Put that one aside, Miss Circumstance, please. See that it
doesn't get mixed up with the unsold stock."

It is a useful philtre, the juice of that small western flower, that
Oberon drops upon our eyelids as we sleep. It solves all difficulties
in a trice. Why of course Helena is the fairer. Compare her with Hermia!
Compare the raven with the dove! How could we ever have doubted for a
moment? Bottom is an angel, Bottom is as wise as he is handsome. Oh,
Oberon, we thank you for that drug. Matilda Jane is a goddess; Matilda
Jane is a queen; no woman ever born of Eve was like Matilda Jane. The
little pimple on her nose--her little, sweet, tip-tilted nose--how
beautiful it is. Her bright eyes flash with temper now and then; how
piquant is a temper in a woman. William is a dear old stupid, how
lovable stupid m