The Craze of Christina — page 88: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

84 The Craze of Christina. Clifford to purchase some of the many tempting things which filled her shop. There was not, for instance, she could swear, in the whole of that great gloomy drawing-room at Esselton one single little inlaid table, not an ornamental sereen or chair, nor any of the hundred and one knick-knacks without which drawing-rooms all the world over are incomplete. If she could make only a little beginning with these trifles, Miss Ashley felt assured that more substantial purchases would follow, and such a customer as Mr. Clifford, it was of the highest importance to her to secure. He wassorich that she really thought she might venture to ask a little more for the things than she would do to an ordinary eustomer. She contided this sentiment to her new assistant, and was somewhat disconcerted to tind that Miss Pratt only laughed, and seemed quite incapable of understanding that she was in earnest. Although she was extremely delighted to re- ceive her invitation, she was somewhat puzzled by the terms of it. ‘““*Miss Ashley—and party,’’’ she read aloud. ‘‘Now what can he mean by ‘party’ ? ” ‘“*f expect he means me,”’ said Miss Pratt. “You, Miss Pratt! Oh, but that would be impossible! Besides,’’ she added after a mo- 9 Gomich (0X0) KS (E(O