Following the secretaire, were several pieces of nondescript furniture that was quickly bid upon and sold to people who wanted mere articles for use and not for beauty. Then a suite of furniture was placed upon the dais and the auctioneer began to point out its especial claims to beauty.
“Girls, is anything wrong with that furniture? Who would use it in a home, and what style of house does it belong in?” said Mr. Fabian.
Again Dodo was the first with her criticism. “Who wants doleful furniture, in a bed-room, to make you weep just as you lose consciousness in sleep? One needs cheerful objects to close one’s eyes upon, and also to bid you good-morning when you wake up.”
“Fine!” complimented Count Chalmys, still more interested in this precocious young lady of not yet seventeen.
“True, and who wants majestic pieces in a nursery?” said Eleanor.
“Or dainty personal lounges or chairs in the City Hall,” added Polly, smilingly.
“Exactly, girls! I am so proud of you all that I feel as if someone had presented me with a bouquet of flowers.”
The impossible set of furniture had been sold and now a Gothic armchair of carved deadwood, upholstered in faded tapestry with beautiful blends of colors that only great age could produce was brought out and placed on exhibition. The moment Polly saw it she made up her mind to have it. But she now knew how to go about bidding in a public sale, because of the experience Eleanor and she had had in New York, when they went about with Mr. Fabian.
The auctioneer started the chair at a reasonable figure and instantly there was lively bidding for it. Polly said not a word but waited eagerly. Then one bidder after another fell out of the contest, until it finally narrowed down to two men.
Polly’s companions knew that she was but waiting her time to speak out. And they were anxiously watching the two men who seemed bent on getting the chair. Finally one of the men shook his head to indicate that he would go no higher, and the auctioneer said: “What! Is this all I can get for this fine example of cabinet-work?”