“I shall have to think over your proposal, Mr. Pringle. There is a great deal of stuff stored in the stable and I am at a loss to know what we could do with it. However, I will let you know in a day or two if that will answer.”
“Take your own time, ma’am. Take your own time. There’s no hurry at all. I’ll call round about Thursday and you can let me know. I’d be willing to pay twenty-five dollars a month for it, ma’am.”
Pringle did not add that the step had been suggested to him by Hadyn Stuyvesant, or that he had also set the figure.
When they were all gathered in the pleasant living-room that evening, she spoke of the matter, ending with the question:
“But where can we put all that furniture? This house will not hold another stick I’m afraid; we are crowded enough as it is.”
For a few moments no one had a suggestion to offer, then Constance cried:
“Mother couldn’t we sell a good many of the things? People do that you know. The Boyntons did when they left Riveredge.”
“Yes, they had a private sale and disposed of many things. They advertised for weeks. I am afraid that would delay things too much.”
“Why not have an auction then? That moves quickly enough. The things go or they don’t go, and that is the end of it.”
“Oh, I should dislike to do that. So many of those things hold very tender associations for me,” hesitated Mrs. Carruth.