Page:Pratt portraits - sketched in a New England suburb (IA prattportraitssk00full).pdf/124

 loath, to help about the dinner. Old Lady Pratt having accomplished her devotions in a very thorough and satisfactory manner, had now put on her Sunday cap of white mull and her gold spectacles, and felt herself at liberty to consider worldly things.

"William," she said with much interest, "ain't cotton goin' up pretty fast?"

"Yes, there's been a big rise this month, and it's likely to go on if things don't quiet down at the South."

"Anson was tellin' me you'd got a large stock onhand. You'd oughter make a sight o' money."

"I don't expect to make more than usual."

"Why! I don't see how you can help it if you try."

"I sha'n't have to try so very hard. I shall sell my stock at a fair profit and no more."

"You don't mean tosay that you'll sell below the market-price!"

"If the market-price isn't a fair one I don't propose to be governed by it."

Old Lady Pratt was quick but never hasty. She got up and pulled the shade down in one of the south windows, and then she put on a little knit shawl, a contradictory mode of procedure which showed that her mind was not on whatshe was doing. After that she resumed her straight-backed chair and gave utterance to her views.

Pears to me you're wrong, William," she said. T ain't as though you sold straight to