9 8 The Naturalist of Cnmbrae. 



remarks that she made, he was no great favourite. 

 He had been making a great stir selling gold-gilted 

 teapots at two and sixpence and three and sixpence 

 each, which were considered a great bargain. They 

 were what is called 'seconds/ that is, goods less or 

 more imperfect. I noticed the same on a large shelf 

 near the ceiling. I asked the price of them. She 

 answered, if I took them all I could have them at 

 sixpence-halfpenny each. The price astonished me, 

 and I said at once that I would take them all. They 

 were taken down on the floor, and the number and 

 the bulk far exceeded what I had calculated on, and 

 would, I feared, take more than all the money I had 

 brought with me to pay for them. 



" It was now closing time, and Mr. Hamilton had 

 come in from the works to take his good lady home. 

 The/y* asked me where I was staying, at the same 

 tirn^jf inviting me to go home with them to tea. I 

 accepted somewhat reluctantly, seeing that I was 

 quite; a- stranger to them, neither had anything been 

 said ofjCthe position that we were in at home. After 

 tea I>sWjas surprised to find that they had sent to- 

 the hcjtl. l for my luggage, and that I was to stay over 

 the night; with them. I did not sleep much that 

 night, .thinking on the large lot of teapots and the 

 little that; I had to meet all my demands. Next 

 morning, twhen we went over to the warehouse, I said 

 to Mrs. Hamilton, if she would pack up the teapots 

 and lay them aside till I got home, I would send 

 the money, -as. I would require the most I had for 

 other goods.'* She said that I might let the whole 

 of their account stand till I got home. One thing. 



