tting up, and gives his experiences. He
informed the company, in a broad Yorkshire dialect, that he did a bit
in furniture, and at first starting these brokers buzzed about him like
flies, and pestered him. "Aah damned 'em pretty hard," said he, "but
they didn't heed any. So then ah spoke 'em civil, and ah said, 'Well,
lads, I dinna come fra Yorkshire to sit like a dummy and let you buy
wi' my brass; the first that pesters me again ah'll just fell him on
t' plaace, like a caulf, and ah'm not very sure he'll get up again in a
hurry.' So they dropped me like a hot potato; never pestered me again.
But if they won't give over pestering you, mistress, ah'll come round
and just stand behind your chair, and bring nieve with me," showing a
fist like a leg of mutton.

"No, no," said the auctioneer, "that will not do. I will have no
disturbance here. Call the policeman."

While the clerk went to the door for the bobby, a gentleman reminded
the auctioneer that the journals had repeatedly drawn attention to the
nuisance.

"Fault of the public, not mine, sir. Policeman, stand behind that lady's
chair, and if anybody annoys her put him quietly into the street."

"This auction-room will be to let soon," said a voice at the end of the
table.

"This auction-room," said the auctioneer, master of the gay or grave at
a moment's notice, "is supported by the public and the trade; it is not
supported by paupers."

A Jew upholsterer put in his word. "I do my own business; but I like to
let a poor man live."

"Jonathan," said the auctioneer to one of his servants, "after this sale
you may put up the shutters; we have gone and offended Mr. Jacobs. He
keeps a shop in Blind Alley, Whitechapel. Now then, lot 69."

Rosa bid timidly for one or two lots, and bought them cheap.

The auctioneer kept looking her way, and she had only to nod.

The obnoxious broker got opposite her, and ran her up a little out of
spite; but as he had only got half a crown about him, and no means of
doubling it, he dared not go far.

On the other side of the table was a figure to which Rosa's eyes often
turned with interest--a fair young boy about twelve years old; he had
golden hair, and was in deep mourning. His appearance interested Rosa,
and she wondered how he came there, and why; he looked like a lamb
wedged in among wolves, a flower among weeds. As the lots proceeded, the
boy seemed to get uneasy; and at last, when lot '73 was put up, anybody
could see