It cost ten
pounds; it's worth fifty. One of my father's bargains, ma'am. All these
things are my father's bargains. There is not another house in England
which has such curiosities as these. Sit down, Lecount; I beg you will
make yourself comfortable. Mrs. Lecount is like the curiosities, Miss
Garth--she is one of my father's bargains. You are one of my father's
bargains, are you not, Lecount? My father was a remarkable man,
ma'am. You will be reminded of him here at every turn. I have got his
dressing-gown on at this moment. No such linen as this is made now--you
can't get it for love or money. Would you like to feel the texture?
Perhaps you're no judge of texture? Perhaps you would prefer talking to
me about these two pupils of yours? They are two, are they not? Are they
fine girls? Plump, fresh, full-blown English beauties?"
"Excuse me, sir," interposed Mrs. Lecount, sorrowfully. "I must really
beg permission to retire if you speak of the poor things in that way.
I can't sit by, sir, and hear them turned into ridicule. Consider their
position; consider Miss Garth."
"You good creature!" said Noel Vanstone, surveying the housekeeper
through his half-closed eyelids.
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