Good phrases are surely, and ever were, very commendable.

--Justice Shallow.

A few days afterwards--it was already the end of August--there was an

occasion which caused some excitement in Middlemarch: the public, if it

chose, was to have the advantage of buying, under the distinguished

auspices of Mr. Borthrop Trumbull, the furniture, books, and pictures

which anybody might see by the handbills to be the best in every kind,

belonging to Edwin Larcher, Esq. This was not one of the sales

indicating the depression of trade; on the contrary, it was due to Mr.

Larcher's great success in the carrying business, which warranted his

purchase of a mansion near Riverston already furnished in high style by

an illustrious Spa physician--furnished indeed with such large

framefuls of expensive flesh-painting in the dining-room, that Mrs.

Larcher was nervous until reassured by finding the subjects to be

Scriptural. Hence the fine opportunity to purchasers which was well

pointed out in the handbills of Mr. Borthrop Trumbull, whose

acquaintance with the history of art enabled him to state that the hall

furniture, to be sold without reserve, comprised a piece of carving by

a contemporary of Gibbons.

At Middlemarch in those times a large sale was regarded as a kind of

festival. There was a table spread with the best cold eatables, as at

a superior funeral; and facilities were offered for that

generous-drinking of cheerful glasses which might lead to generous and

cheerful bidding for undesirable articles. Mr. Larcher's sale was the

more attractive in the fine weather because the house stood just at the

end of the town, with a garden and stables attached, in that pleasant

issue from Middlemarch called the London Road, which was also the road

to the New Hospital and to Mr. Bulstrode's retired residence, known as

the Shrubs. In short, the auction was as good as a fair, and drew all

classes with leisure at command: to some, who risked making bids in

order simply to raise prices, it was almost equal to betting at the

races. The second day, when the best furniture was to be sold,

"everybody" was there; even Mr. Thesiger, the rector of St. Peter's,

had looked in for a short time, wishing to buy the carved table, and

had rubbed elbows with Mr. Bambridge and Mr. Horrock. There was a

wreath of Middlemarch ladies accommodated with seats round the large

table in the dining-room, where Mr. Borthrop Trumbull was mounted with

desk and hammer; but the rows chiefly of masculine faces behind were

often varied by incomings and outgoings both from the door and the

large bow-window opening on to the lawn.




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