
at Quallingham, who did not write to her; and that perhaps Tertius when he came
home would tease her about expenses. She had already secretly disobeyed him by
asking her father to help them, and he had ended decisively by saying, »I am
more likely to want help myself.«
 

                                   Chapter LX

            »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
