So open and transparent a swindle I have seldom seen, even in an auction-room.

Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha!" His mirth was interrupted by Rosa going to her husband, hiding her head on his shoulder, and meekly crying.
Christopher comforted her like a man.

"Don't you cry, darling," said he; "how should a pure creature like you know the badness of the world all in a moment?
If it is my wife you are laughing at, Uncle Philip, let me tell you this is the wrong place.

I'd rather a thousand times have her as she is, than armed with the cunning and suspicions of a hardened old worldling like you." "With all my heart," said Uncle Philip, who, to do him justice, could take blows as well as give them; "but why employ a broker?
Why pay a scoundrel five per cent to make you pay a hundred per cent?
Why pay a noisy fool a farthing to open his mouth for you when you have taken the trouble to be there yourself, and have got a mouth of your own to bid discreetly with?
Was ever such an absurdity ?" He began to get angry.
"Do you want to quarrel with me, Uncle Philip ?" said Christopher, firing up; "because sneering at my Rosa is the way, and the only way, and the sure way." "Oh, no," said Rosa, interposing.

"Uncle Philip was right.