"Oh yes. The woman puts a watch into our hands and tells all sorts of lies about it being a better watch than any other that could be bought, and that she only asks us to pay ten shillings down and we can have the watch to wear at once. I wish I had never seen her or the watch either."
"But you saw it and signed the agreement at the same time," said the man, mildly.
"Yes, I did; but, of course, I thought the ten shillings I had paid would be taken off the price of the watch—the two pounds—and weeks after that has been paid, you send a notice to tell us we are not to pay any money to the agent who delivers the watch. What do you call that but cheating?"
"There is nothing in the agreement about the fee paid to the first agent being taken off the price of the watch. It is a very carefully drawn agreement," added the man.
"I dare say it is," retorted Miriam. "You've had it made so as to squeeze money out of poor servant girls; but you won't get any more out of me, I can tell you. If you don't take this watch back, and hand me the money I have paid for it, I shall keep it, but not another farthing will I pay for it."
"Oh, we have means to enforce our rights!" said the man, calmly. "One visit from our inspector will be sufficient, he will let you know what to expect if the money is not paid at once to him: however, we are not in the habit of unduly pressing our customers, and so I will tell our collector to defer his visit for a week, so as to give you a little more time," said the man, soothingly.
"Then you won't take the watch back and give me the money I have paid for it?" said Miriam, sharply.
"No, indeed, we cannot do that, miss," replied the man. "You have had the watch three months now—"
"But I have only worn it twice," said the girl. "It has been locked up in my box all the time, and is as good as if it had been in your shop," she added.
But the man still shook his head. "We cannot do business that way," he said.