"Do you want it? Too much for your purse, Pink. That is marked two hundred and fifty dollars."
"For a punch bowl!" said Matilda.
"Yes, why not?"
But Matilda did not say why not. What must be the rest of the dinner, when the punch bowl was two hundred and fifty dollars?
"And here's an épergne," said Norton. "That is to stand in the centre of the dinner table—for ornament. That's seven hundred and fifty."
"What's inside of the punch bowl, Norton? it is yellow."
"Gold," said Norton. "It is lined with gold—gold washed, that is. Gold don't tarnish, you know."
They went on. It was a progress of wonders, to Matilda. She was delighted with some wood carvings. Then highly amused with a show of seals; Norton wished to buy one, and it took him some time to be suited. Then Norton made her notice a great variety of useful articles in morocco and leather and wood; satchels and portemonnaies, and dressing boxes, and portfolios and card cases; and chains and rings and watches. Bronzes and jewellery held them finally a very long time. The crowd was great in the store; people were passing in and passing out constantly; the little boys the door-openers were busy opening and shutting all the time. At last they let out Matilda and Norton.
"Now, Pink," said the latter, well pleased, "do you know what you want? Have you seen anything you want?"
"O yes, Norton; a great many things; but it is all confusion in my head till I think about it at home."