He waited very
patiently till she had finished; but then he set himself in
good earnest about righting the wrong. "Hallo! you, Sir!" he
shouted, in a voice that made everybody look round; "you
merino man! come and show your goods. Why aren't you at your
post, Sir?" — as Mr. Saunders came up, with an altered
countenance — "here's a young lady you've left standing
unattended to, I don't know how long; are these your manners?"
"The young lady did not wish anything, I believe, Sir,"
returned Mr. Saunders, softly.
"You know better, you scoundrel!" retorted the old gentleman,
who was in a great passion; "I saw the whole matter with my
own eyes. You are a disgrace to the store, Sir, and deserve to
be sent out of it, which you are like enough to be."
"I really thought, Sir," said Mr. Saunders, smoothly — for he
knew the old gentleman, and knew very well he was a person
that must not be offended — "I really thought — I was not
aware, Sir, that the young lady had any occasion for my
services."
"Well, show your wares, Sir, and hold your tongue. Now, my
dear, what did you want?"
"I wanted a little bit of this gray merino, Sir, to show to
Mamma. I couldn't buy it, you know, Sir, until I found out
whether she would like it."
"Cut a piece, Sir, without any words," said the gentleman. Mr.
Saunders obeyed.
"Did you like this best?" pursued the old gentleman.
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