Bobbinet & Co. did not exactly understand his more sophisticated
partner; but before he had time to ask an explanation, the appearance
of another customer caused his face to brighten, and changed the
current of his thoughts. The person who now entered was an
exceedingly brilliant looking girl of twenty, dressed in the height of
fashion, and extremely well, though a severe critic might have thought
she was OVER dressed for the streets, still she had alighted from a
carriage. Her face was decidedly handsome, and her person exquisitely
proportioned. As a whole, I had scarcely ever seen a young creature
that could lay claim to more of the loveliness of her sex. Both the young
ladies who had just left us were pleasing and pretty; and to own the
truth, there was an air of modest refinement about them, that was not so
apparent in this new visiter; but the dazzling appearance of the latter, at
first, blinded me to her faults, and I saw nothing but her perfection. The
interest manifested by the master--I beg his pardon, the boss of the
store--and the agitation among the clerks, very plainly proved that much
was expected from the visit of this young lady, who was addressed,
with a certain air of shop-familiarity, as Miss Halfacre--a familiarity that
showed she was an habituee of the place, and considered a good
customer.

Luckily for the views of Bobbinet & Co., we were all still lying on the
counter. This is deemed a fortunate circumstance in the contingencies of
this species of trade, since it enables the dealer to offer his uncalled-for
wares in the least suspicious and most natural manner. It was fortunate,
also, that I lay at the bottom of the little pile--a climax being quite as
essential in sustaining an extortionate price, as in terminating with due
effect, a poem, a tragedy, or a romance.

"Good morning, Miss Halfacre," said Mr. Bobbinet, bowing and