In most cases no harm was done.

The country-women were keenly alive to the value of their money, and evidently enjoyed the process of beating down the price by halfpennies until the real value of the article was reached.

Then Mr.O'Reilly and his assistants were accustomed to close the haggle with a beautiful formula: 'To _you_,' they said, with confidential smiles and flattering emphasis on the pronoun--'to _you_ the price will be one and a penny; but, really, there will be no profit on the sale.' Occasionally with timid and inexperienced customers O'Reilly's method proved its value.

Hyacinth saw him sell a dress-length of serge to a young woman with a baby in her arms for a penny a yard more than he had charged a moment before for the same material.

Another thing which struck him as he watched was the small amount of actual cash which was paid across the counter.