"Well, then, it shall be so, I will call you 'neighbor,' because you really are so."
"Father, father!" cried one of Morel's little boys, coming out of the garret, "mother is calling you; come directly, pray do." The lapidary hastily entered the room.
"Now, neighbor," said Rudolph to Miss Dimpleton, "you must render me a still further service."
"With all my heart, if it be in my power."
"You are, I am sure, an excellent little housewife. It is necessary to purchase immediately all that is wanted for Morel's family to be properly clothed, bedded, and settled in my room, for there is only sufficient for myself as a bachelor, that was brought yesterday. How can we manage to procure instantly all I wish for the Morels?"
Miss Dimpleton thought for a moment, and answered: "In a couple of hours you can have all your want; good clothes ready-made, warm and neat, with good clean linen for all the family: two little beds for the children, and one for the grandmother—in short, all that is necessary; but it will cost a great deal of money."
"You don't say so! How much?"
"Oh, at least—at the very least—five or six hundred francs."
"For everything?"
"Yes, it is a great sum of money, you see," said Miss Dimpleton opening her large eyes, and shaking her bead.