second-hand articles, but out here the reverse was the case. A madness
possessed otherwise conservative Eastern merchants--especially of the staid
city of Boston--to send out on speculation immense cargoes of all sorts of
goods. These were the despair of consignees. Heavy freights, high interest
charges, tremendous warehouse rates, speedily ate up whatever chance of
profits a fresh consignment might have. The only solution was to sell out
as promptly as possible; and the quickest method was the auction.
Therefore, auctions were everywhere in progress, and the professional
auctioneers were a large, influential, and skilful class of people. Their
advertisements made the bulk of the newspapers. They dressed well, carried
an air of consequence, furnished refreshments, brass bands, or other
entertainments to their patrons. The era of fabulous prices was at an end,
but the era of wild speculation as to what the public was going to want was
in full tide. Keith and Nan found these auctions great fun, and piece by
piece they accumulated the items of their house furnishing. It was slow
work, but amusing. At times Mrs. Sherwood accompanied them, but not often.
Her advice was always good.

As to Mrs. Sherwood, Nan Keith found her attitude very vague. There was no
doubt that she liked her personally, admired her slow, purposeful, half-
indolent movements, the poise of her small, patrician head, the
unconscious, easy grace of her body, the direct commonsense quality of her
mind. One met her face to face; there were no frills and furbelows of the
spirit. Also, Nan was grateful for the other woman's first kindness and
real sympathy, and she wanted to "play the game." But, on the other hand,
all her social training and her instinct of formalism tended to hold her
aloof. She blamed herself intellectually for this feeling; but since it was
a feeling, and had nothing to do with intellect, it persisted.

In the auction rooms, also, she seemed to meet--be formally introduced to--