He set off presently, carrying the precious vases wrapped up like twin-babies and, arriving at the market-town, he entered the shop of the principal ironmonger, who dealt also in all kinds of earthenware goods, and had the notice, "Art pottery a Specialty," posted in one of his windows. The proprietor advanced to meet him, and was highly flattered when George remarked he had come to obtain the impartial opinion of a specialist regarding the value of some Chinese vases.
"If I can't give it ye, sir, I don't know who can. I ha' handled cloam all my life, as my father did avore me, and I'll quote ye a fair market price vor anything you like to show me. They are amazing ugly things, sure enough, wi' they old snakes all twisted round 'em," said the honest tradesman when George had undressed his babies.
"They're beautifully glazed," said the owner proudly.
"Yes, they'm nice and shiny. 'Tis done by baking 'em. Now you want me to tell you how much they'm worth?"
"Suppose I asked you to buy them, how much would you offer?"
"I might give ye eighteen pence vor the pair, though I should fancy I wur doing ye a favour. Some folks like these ugly things—I sell a lot o' they china cats wi' the eyes starting out o' their heads—but I would be satisfied if I got a shilling each vor these old vases."
"A gentleman told me the other day they were worth a lot of money—hundreds of pounds in fact," said the astounded George.
"I believe ye, sir. Plenty o' gentlemen, when they see a bit o' cloam that ain't quite the same as ordinary cloam, will tell ye it's worth money. Cloam is wonderful cheap just now, sir. I can show ye some amazing bargains in vases at half a crown the pair, and far better value than these old china things."
"But the gentleman, who told me they were valuable, came from London," George protested.
"Well, sir," replied the little provincial, smiling broadly, "ain't that just where all the vules do come from?"