144 PEECEPT AND PEACTlCE. 



very objectionably, from the lowness of the price you 

 require ; I seldom get anything that can carry me as 

 I wish, under four hundred. Good morning.' The 

 other instance of fastidious vanity was shown by an 

 acquaintance of mine^ who piqued himself on his 

 collection of pictures. He showed me with great and 

 just pride a Domenichino, certainly a magnificent 

 specimen of the master — he had given fifteen hundred 

 for it ; a Rubens, with his fair, and in point of flesh, 

 somewhat redundant beauties — this had cost him a 

 similar sum ; then came a Claude, with one of his 

 matchless sun-risings — this had cost also a heavy 

 sum. After looking at these almost matchless speci- 

 mens, I saw a small picture hung behind the door. I 

 was struck by the grouping of it, and made a remark 

 to that eff'ect. * Yes,' said he, * it is a pretty little 

 furniture picture.' I saw it going at Philhps' for 

 fifty, and foolishly bought it ; but it has no business 

 here. I shall move it to my dressing-room, where I 

 have several of the same stamp ; they save repaper- 

 ing the room.' You see there is affectation in other 

 things besides horses ; men show it in diff'erent ways. 



