picious and most natural manner. It
was fortunate, also, that I lay at the bottom of the little pile--a
climax being quite as essential in sustaining an extortionate price, as
in terminating with due effect, a poem, a tragedy, or a romance.

"Good morning, Miss Halfacre," said Mr. Bobbinet, bowing and smiling;
if his face had been half as honest as it professed to be, it would
have GRINNED. "I am glad you have come in at this moment, as we are
about to put on sale some of the rarest articles, in the way of
pocket-handkerchiefs, that have ever come to this market. The Misses
Burton have just seen them, and THEY pronounce them the most beautiful
articles of the sort they have ever seen; and I believe they have been
over half the world."

"And did they take any, Mr. Bobbinet? The Miss Burtons are thought to
have taste."

"They have not exactly PURCHASED, but I believe each of them has a
particular article in her eye. Here is one, ma'am, that is rather
prettier than any you have yet seen in New York. The price is SIXTY
dollars."

The word SIXTY was emphasized in a way to show the importance that was
attached to PRICE--that being a test of more than common importance
with the present customer. I sighed when I remembered that poor
Adrienne had received but about ten dollars for ME--an article worth so
much more than that there exhibited.

"It is really very pretty, Mr. Bobbinet, very pretty, but Miss Monson
bought one not quite as pretty, at Lace's; and SHE payed SIXTY-FIVE, if
I am not mistaken."

"I dare say; we have them at much higher prices. I showed YOU this only
that you might see that OUR SIXTIES are as handsome as MR. LACE'S
sixty-FIVES. What do you think of THIS?"

"That IS a jewel! What IS the price, Mr. Bobbinet?"

"Why, we will let YOU have it for seventy, though I do think it ought
to bring five more."

"Surely you do not abate on pocket-handkerchiefs! One doesn't like to
have such a thing TOO low."

"Ah, I may as well come to the point at once with such a customer as
yourself, Miss Halfacre; here is the article on which I pride myself.
THAT article never WAS equalled in this market, and never WILL be."

I cannot repeat half the exclamations of delight which escaped the fair
Eudosia, when I first burst on her entranced eye. She turned me over
and over, examined me with palpitating bosom, and once I thought she
was about to kiss me; then, in a trembling voice, she demanded the
price.

"ONE HUNDRE