“Oh, so she might; I never thought of that. Customers!” added the girl sharply, and rose to go into the shop.
“I’ll attend to them, my dear,” said Miss Clode quickly, and she entered the shop to smilingly confront Sir Harry Payne and Sir Matthew Bray.
“Well, Miss Clode, what’s the newest and best book for a man to read?”
“Really, Sir Harry, I am very sorry,” she said. “The coach has not brought anything fresh, but I expect a parcel down some time to-day. Perhaps you’d look in again?”
“Ah, well, I will,” he said. “Come along, Bray.”
“Have you seen these new card-cases, Sir Matthew?” said the little woman, taking half a dozen from a drawer. “They are real russia, and the gilding is of very novel design. Only a guinea, Sir Matthew, and quite new.”
“Ah, yes, very handsome indeed. A guinea, did you say?” he said, turning the handsome leather case over and over.
“Yes, Sir Matthew. May I put it down to your account?”
“Well, ah, yes—I—ah, yes, I’ll take this one.”
“Thank you, Sir Matthew. I’ll wrap it up, please, in silver paper;” and, with deft fingers, the little woman wrapped up the purchase, handed it over with a smile, and the two friends strolled out for Sir Harry to give his friend a light touch in the side with the head of his cane, accompanied by a peculiar smile, which the other refused to see.