"
"On the contrary, I'm reserving it. I shan't characterize the
bric-a-brac, that was to be expected."
"Don't!"
"At least that is not marked. I come at last to the silver. Give me the
list."
Clara sighed and extended it.
"Four solid silver terrapin dishes."
"Marked."
"Marked--Terrapin--ha! ha! Two massive, expensive, solid silver
champagne coolers."
"Marked."
"Marked, my dear--for each end of the table when we give our beefsteak
dinners. Almond dishes."
"Don't!"
"Forty-two individual, solid or filigree almond dishes; forty-two,
Clara."
"Marked."
"Right again, dear. One dozen bonbon dishes, five nouveau riche sugar
shakers (we never use them), three muffineers--in heaven's name, what's
that? Solid silver bread dishes, solid silver candlesticks by the dozen,
solid silver vegetable dishes, and we expect one servant and an
intermittent laundress to do the cooking, washing, make the beds and
clean the house besides."
"All marked," said Clara dolefully.
"Every one, my dear. Then the china and the plates, we can't even eat
out of the plates we want or drink from the glasses we wish; everything
in this house, from top to bottom has been picked out and inflicted upon
us against our wants and in defiance of our own taste and we--we have
got to go on living with them and trying not to quarrel!"
"You have forgotten the worst of all," said Clara.
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