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46 can't afford to refurnish. Believe me, sir, iron's the thing now-a-days.'

'And indian-rubber,' said Dockwrath.

'Yes; indian-rubber's wonderful too, Are you in that line, sir?'

'Well; no; not exactly.'

'It's not like iron, sir. You can’t make a dinner-table for fourteen people out of indian-rubber, that will shut up into a box 3—6 by 2—4 deep, and 2—6 broad. Why, sir, I can let you have a set of drawing-room furniture for fifteen ten that you've never seen equalled in wood for three times the money;—ornamented in the tastiest way, sir, and fit for any lady’s drawing-room or boodoor. The ladies of quality are all getting them now for their boodoors. There’s three tables, eight chairs, easy rocking-chair, music-stand, stool to match, and pair of stand-up screens, all gilt in real Louey catorse; and it goes in three boxes 4—2 by 2—1 and 2—3. Think of that, sir. For fifteen ten and the boxes in.' Then there was a pause, after which Mr. Kantwise added—'If ready money, the carriage paid.' And then he turned his head very much away, and looked back very hard at his expected customer.

'I'm afraid the articles are not in my line,' said Mr. Dockwrath.

'It’s the tastiest present for a gentleman to make to his lady that has come out since—since those sort of things have come out at all. You'll let me show you the articles, sir. It will give me the sincerest pleasure,' And Mr, Kantwise proposed to leave the room in order that he might introduce the three boxes in question.

'They would not be at all in my way,' said Mr. Dockwrath.

'The trouble would be nothing,' said Mr. Kantwise, 'and it gives me the greatest pleasure to make them known when I find any one who can appreciate such undoubted luxuries; and so saying Mr. Kantwise skipped out of the room, and soon returned with James and Boots, each of the three bearing on his shoulder a deal box nearly as big as a coffin, all of which were deposited in different parts of the room Mr. Moulder in the mean time snored heavily, his head falling on to his breast every now and again. But nevertheless he hold fast by his pipe.

Mr. Kantwise skipped about the room with wonderful agility, unfastening the boxes, and taking out the contents, while Joe the boots and James the waiter stood by assisting. They had never yet seen the glories of these chairs and tables, and were therefore not unwilling to be present. It was singular to see how ready Mr. Kantwise was at the work, how recklessly he threw aside the whitey-brown paper in which the various pieces of painted iron were enveloped, and with what a practised hand he put together one article after another. First there was a round loo-table, not quite so large in its circumference as some people might think desirable, but, nevertheless, a round loo-table. The pedestal with