I said the Stores would do for the present. I was not quite clear in my mind as yet how the question of payment would work out, but it did not seem to be difficult to get hold of money in Culbut.
However, as a precautionary measure, I asked the price of the first article shown me, which was a ready-made flannel suit—dark green with a purple stripe in it, quite smart-looking.
The shopman looked at a secret mark on the label, and said: "Three pounds."
"Oh, come now!" said Perry at once. "We're not paupers, you know. You can't treat us in that way."
The man explained that the material wore exceptionally badly for that class of goods; but to us he would make it three pounds ten.
"Not a penny less than four pounds," said Perry, and I confounded his officiousness.
"I'll pay his price," I said. "I hate haggling."
"No," said Perry. "I'm not going to see you bestowed upon. He'll have to let you pay four pounds for it."
The man said he would go and see the manager, and when he had left the counter Perry said: "Don't you give way to him. These people are always open to a bargain, although they profess to sell dear. Why, that suit would last you for ever so long! If we hadn't come in like this he would have let us pay six pounds for it."