to get away to his office, to whom no power of choosing in the matter was really given, and whom the men regarded as being altogether supernumerary.  The ladies had promised to be at the shop by half-past ten, so that Crosbie should reach his office at eleven—­or a little after.  But it was nearly eleven before they left the Gazebee residence, and it was very evident that half-an-hour among the carpets would be by no means sufficient.  It seemed as though miles upon miles of gorgeous colouring were unrolled before them; and then when any pattern was regarded as at all practicable, it was unrolled backwards and forwards till a room was nearly covered by it.  Crosbie felt for the men who were hauling about the huge heaps of material; but Lady Amelia sat as composed as though it were her duty to inspect every yard of stuff in the warehouse.  “I think we’ll look at that one at the bottom again.”  Then the men went to work and removed a mountain.  “No, my dear, that green in the scroll-work won’t do.  It would fly directly, if any hot water were spilt.”  The man, smiling ineffably, declared that that particular green never flew anywhere.  But Lady Amelia paid no attention to him, and the carpet for which the mountain had been removed became part of another mountain.

“That might do,” said Alexandrina, gazing upon a magnificent crimson ground through which rivers of yellow meandered, carrying with them in their streams an infinity of blue flowers.  And as she spoke she held her head gracefully on one side, and looked down upon the carpet doubtingly.  Lady Amelia poked it with her parasol at though to test its durability, and whispered something about yellows showing the dirt.  Crosbie took out his watch and groaned.

“It’s a superb carpet, my lady, and about the newest thing we have.  We put down four hundred and fifty yards of it for the Duchess of South Wales, at Cwddglwlch Castle, only last month.  Nobody has had it since, for it has not been in stock.”  Whereupon Lady Amelia again poked it, and then got up and walked upon it.  Lady Alexandrina held her head a little more on one side.

“Five and three?” said Lady Amelia.

“Oh, no, my lady; five and seven; and the cheapest carpet we have in the house.  There is twopence a yard more in the colour; there is, indeed.”

“And the discount?” asked Lady Amelia.

“Two and a half, my lady.”

“Oh dear, no,” said Lady Amelia.  “I always have five per cent. for immediate payment—­quite immediate, you know.”  Upon which the man declared the question must be referred to his master.  Two and a half was the rule of the house.  Crosbie, who had been looking out of the window, said that upon his honour he couldn’t wait any longer.

“And what do you think of it, Adolphus?”, asked Alexandrina.

“Think of what?”

“Of the carpet—­this one, you know!”

“Oh—­what do I think of the carpet?  I don’t think I quite like all these yellow bands; and isn’t it too red?  I should have thought something brown with a small pattern would have been better.  But, upon my word, I don’t much care.”