"Ten dollars?"
"Now Mr. Smith! But come; be serious. Isn't it cheap at forty dollars?"
Mr. Smith examined the sofa with care, and then gave it as his opinion that it wasn't dear at forty dollars.
"I got it for thirty," said I.
"Indeed! I should really call that a bargain,—provided you don't discover in it, after a while, some defect."
"I've looked at every part, over and over again," was my response to this, "and can find a defect nowhere. None exists, I am satisfied."
"Time will show," remarked Mr. Smith.
There was the smallest perceptible doubt in his tone.
Next morning, on going into my parlors, I was a little worried to see two or three moths flying about the room. They were despatched with commendable quickness. On the morning that followed, the same thing occurred again; and this was repeated, morning after morning. Moreover, in a few days, these insects, so dreaded by housekeepers, showed themselves in the chambers above. Up to this time I had neglected to put away my furs, a new set of which had been purchased during the previous winter. I delayed this no longer.
House-cleaning time had now arrived. My new carpets were taken up and packed away, to give place to the cooler matting. Our winter clothing also received attention, and was deposited in chests and closets for the summer, duly provided with all needful protection from moths. After this came the calm of rest and self-satisfaction.