“Who’ll try this?” she began. “It has a double charm. Not only has it reposed round this fair and lovely form, but the silk of which it is made was given to me by my mother’s aunt, who had it from her mother before her. When I part with this, I part with a relic. Those who purchase it secure for themselves a piece of history. Who will buy, who will buy, who will buy? An historical dress going—such a bargain! Who, who will buy?”
“I’ll give you five shillings, Polly,” screamed a dark-eyed girl who stood near.
“Five shillings! This lovely dress going for five shillings!” proceeded Polly.
“And sixpence,” added another voice.
“This beautiful, historical robe going for five-and-sixpence,” said Miss Singleton, in her gay voice. “Oh, it’s a bargain—it’s dirt cheap! Who will buy? who will buy?”
The bids went up, and finally the yellow dress was knocked down to a rosy-faced country girl for the sum of thirteen shillings and ninepence.
Polly’s various other possessions were one by one brought to the hammer, some of them fetching fairly large sums, for they were most of them good and worth having, and there were wealthy girls at the college, who were not above securing a bargain when it came in their way.
At last the prize on which all Rose’s hopes were set was put up for sale. Polly’s magnificent sealskin jacket was held aloft, and displayed to the admiring and covetous gaze of many. Rose’s face brightened; an eager, greedy look filled her eyes. She actually trembled in her anxiety to secure this prize of prizes.
Maggie Oliphant, who was standing in a listless, indifferent attitude near the door, not taking the smallest part in the active proceedings which were going forward, was for the first time roused to interest by the expression on Rosalind’s face. She moved a step or two into the crowd, and when one or two timid bids were heard for the coveted treasure, she raised her own voice, and for the first time appeared eager to secure something for herself.
Rose bid against her, an angry flush filling her blue eyes as she did so. Maggie nonchalantly made her next bid a little higher—Rose raised hers. Soon they were the only two in the field; other girls had come to the limit of their purses, and withdrew vanquished from the struggle.