Ten minutes at the least did she stand at the door argy-bargying with that man.

But it would be cruelty to scold a woman so uplifted.
'Fifteen shillings he wanted,' she cries, 'but what do you think I beat him down to ?' 'Seven and sixpence ?' She claps her hands with delight.

'Four shillings, as I'm a living woman!' she crows: never was a woman fonder of a bargain.
I gaze at the purchase with the amazement expected of me, and the chair itself crinkles and shudders to hear what it went for (or is it merely chuckling at her ?).

'And the man said it cost himself five shillings,' my mother continues exultantly.

You would have thought her the hardest person had not a knock on the wall summoned us about this time to my sister's side.