"
Amanda did not have good blood in her veins without appreciating the
coarse vulgarity of Snaffle; but neither had she associated for years
with his kind without having the edge of her distaste worn away. She
was, besides, a woman and a vain one, and the undisguised admiration
with which he regarded her put her in excellent humor. It confirmed the
verdict of her mirror that the care with which she had arrayed herself
for this expedition had not been wasted. She smiled as she answered
him, tapping her chin with her well-gloved forefinger.
"But, of course," she observed, dispassionately, "if I bought of you at
all I should buy conditionally. I'll give you two for the stock, and
take it if I can sell it to Irons."
"Oh, don't rob yourself," Snaffle returned, with good-natured sarcasm.
"What's to hinder my selling it for two and an eighth myself?"
"Two and an eighth asked and no buyers is what they told me!" retorted
the widow imperturbably. "I don't know much about stocks, but I know
that if you could have sold for almost any price you'd have done it
long ago."
"Right you are," admitted Snaffle, good-naturedly, "if I'd nobody to
consider but myself; but just the same, I sha'n't kick the bottom out
of the market before it falls out of itself."
"Then I understand," said the widow, with an air, gathering herself
together as if to depart, "that you won't take my offer.
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