the smell of the leather, but pianos are out of my line. Clara's
manner changed instantly as she thought of the commission she would get
from Kramer's, where she had a running account for music."

"I shall be only too pleased," she said.

As they left the house she remembered, with a slight repugnance,
Jonah's deformity. She hoped people wouldn't notice them as they went
down the street. But to her surprise and relief, Jonah hailed a
passing cab.

"Time's money to me," he said, with an apologetic look.

Cabs were a luxury in Buckland Street, and Clara was delighted. She
felt suddenly on the level of the rich people who could afford to ride
where others trudged afoot. She leaned forward, hoping that the people
would notice her.

At Kramer's she took charge of Jonah as a guide takes charge of
tourists in a foreign land, anxious to show him that she was at home
among this display of expensive luxuries. The floor was packed with
pianos, glittering with varnish which reflected the strong light of
the street. From another room came a monotonous sound repeated
indefinitely, a tuner at work on a piano.

The salesman stepped up, glancing at the hunchback with the quick look
of surprise which Clara had noticed in others. They stopped in front
of an open piano, and Clara, taking off her gloves, ran her fingers
over the keys. The rich, singing notes surprised Jonah, they were
quite unlike those he had heard on Clara's piano. Clara played as much
as she could remember of "The Wind Among the Pines", and Jonah decided
to buy that one.

"'Ow much is that?" he inquired.

"A hundred guineas," replied the shopman, indifferently.

"Garn! Yer kiddin'?" cried Jonah, astounded.

The salesman looked in surprise from Jonah to Clara. She coloured
slightly. Jonah saw that she was annoyed. The salesman led them to
another instrument, and, with less deference in his tone, remarked that
this was the firm's special cheap line at fifty guineas. But Jonah had
noticed the change in Clara's manner, and decided against the cheaper
instrument instantly. They thought he wasn't good for a hundred quid,
did they? Well, he would show them. But, to his surprise, Clara
opposed the idea. The Steinbech, she explained, was an instrument for
artists. It would be a sacrilege for a beginner to touch it. Jonah
persisted, but the shopman agreed with Clara that the celebrated Ropp
at eighty guineas would meet his wants. A long discussion