"Where are all the joanies?"[[1]] he asked. "You used to have two big china figures up there."
[[1]] Joanies—ornaments of glass or china.
"Some are packed, and some will go into the sale. They two you mean are worth money, I'm told," explained Mrs. Baskerville.
Then the visitor said a thing that much astonished her.
"'Twill give you trouble now," he remarked, "but 'twill save trouble in the end. Let me see them put back again."
Milly looked at May in wonder. To argue the matter was her first thought; but May acted.
"They be only in the next room, with other things to be sold," she said. "You can see them again, uncle, if you mind to."
Rupert spoke while she was from the room.
"Why don't you buy 'em, uncle? They'd look fine at your place."
"Put 'em back on the shelf," answered Mr. Baskerville. "And, what's more, you may, or may not, be glad to know they can stop there. 'Tis a matter of no account at all, and I won't have no talk about it, but you can feel yourself free to stay, Hester, if you'd rather not make a change at your time of life. You must settle it with Rupert and your darter. In a word, I've had a tell with the owner of the farm and he's agreeable."