Ezek. I offered her a clock for twelve dollars, and she beat me down to five. I usually sell ’em for a dollar and a half.
S. J. I suppose ’twasn’t worth even that.
Ezek. It doesn’t go much, but when it does, it makes up for lost time. Then she wanted some spettercles. She took a pair for two dollars and a half that I generally get seventy-five cents for; but I’ll warrant they won’t magnify any too much, for there’s nothing but winder-glass in ’em.
Mrs. S. (emphatically). The villain!
S. J. You was rather too bad, ’Zekiel.
Ezek. Not at all. She bought some calico, and asked if it would wash. I told her it would wash like white cloth, and I guess ’twill. After two or three washings, there won’t be a bit of color left in it.
Mrs. S. Oh, the wretch! Won’t I give it to him! (Mrs. Hobbs smiles. She evidently enjoys the scene.)
Ezek. But the cream of the joke was that she wanted some hooks and eyes and a spool of thread, and gave me a mince pie for them. I tasted it, but it was such wretched stuff that I couldn’t eat it, so I threw it into the river for the fishes.
(Mrs. Skinflint dashes into the kitchen with arms akimbo. Ezekiel shrinks back with mock terror. Sarah Jane and her mother come forward, smiling, to see what will be done.)
Mrs. S. What do you mean, you wretch, by cheatin’ me in such a way?