MAHOGANY GATE-LEGGED TABLE
My having over-stocked the house that day has kept me off buying higher class chairs, but one never knows what may happen. Quite recently I bought a gate-legged Spanish mahogany square ended table. I found it most unexpectedly the first day we decided we wanted such a thing, and it happened to be just the size desired. After a brief examination without going on my knees I told them to deliver it, and when it arrived legs uppermost I thought, “what a lot of worm holes for the money.” I said nothing aloud. Having ’phoned for a cabinet-maker, and after he had laid the table top downwards he dropped on his knees, and looking up with an expression of mingled pity and contempt for my credulity enquired:
“Have you bought it?”
“Yes.”
“And paid for it?”
“Yes.”
“May I ask how much?”
“Eight pounds.”
“I’ve bought tables like this for 35s.”
“Yes, some time ago.”