They gave the impression that Mr.Polehampton wished to suggest to his visitors the fitness and propriety of clothing their walls with the same gilt cloth.

They gave that idea, but I think that, actually, Mr.Polehampton took an aesthetic delight in the gilding.

He was not a publisher by nature.

He had drifted into the trade and success, but beneath a polish of acquaintance retained a fine awe for a book as such.

In early life he had had such shining things on a shiny table in a parlour.