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It certainly made a blaze of light and colour； almost as if a
rainbow had suddenly descended into the marketplace； when； one fine
morning； the shutters were taken down from the new shop； and the two
windows displayed their decorations。 On one side； there were the
variegated tints of collared and marbled meats； set off by bright
green leaves； the pale brown of glazed pies； the rich tones of
sauces and bottled fruits enclosed in their veil of glass
altogether a sight to bring tears into the eyes of a Dutch painter；
and on the other； there was a predominance of the more delicate hues
of pink； and white； and yellow； and buff； in the abundant lozenges；
candies； sweet biscuits and icings； which to the eyes of a bilious
person might easily have been blended into a faery landscape in
Turner's latest style。 What a sight to dawn upon the eyes of
Grimworth children！ They almost forgot to go to their dinner that
day； their appetites being preoccupied with imaginary sugar…plums；
and I think even Punch； setting up his tabernacle in the market…
place； would not have succeeded in drawing them away from those
shop…windows； where they stood according to gradations of size and
strength； the biggest and strongest being nearest the window； and
the little ones in the outermost rows lifting wide…open eyes and
mouths towards the upper tier of jars； like small birds at meal…
time。
The elder inhabitants pished and pshawed a little at the folly of
the new shopkeeper in venturing on such an outlay in goods that
would not keep； to be sure； Christmas was coming； but what housewife
in Grimworth would not think shame to furnish forth her table with
articles that were not home…cooked？ No； no。 Mr。 Edward Freely； as
he called himself； was deceived； if he thought Grimworth money was
to flow into his pockets on such terms。
Edward Freely was the name that shone in gilt letters on a mazarine
ground over the doorplace of the new shopa generous…sounding name；
that might have belonged to the open…hearted； improvident hero of an
old comedy； who would have delighted in raining sugared almonds；
like a new manna…gift； among that small generation outside the
windows。 But Mr。 Edward Freely was a man whose impulses were kept
in due subordination： he held that the desire for sweets and pastry
must only be satisfied in a direct ratio with the power of paying
for them。 If the smallest child in Grimworth would go to him with a
halfpenny in its tiny fist； he would； after ringing the halfpenny；
deliver a just equivalent in 〃rock。〃 He was not a man to cheat even
the smallest childhe often said so； observing at the same time
that he loved honesty； and also that he was very tender…hearted；
though he didn't show his feelings as some people did。
Either in reward of such virtue； or according to some more hidden
law of sequence； Mr。 Freely's business； in spite of prejudice；
started under favourable auspices。 For Mrs。 Chaloner； the rector's
wife； was among the earliest customers at the shop； thinking it only
right to encourage a new parishioner who had made a decorous
appearance at church； and she found Mr。 Freely a most civil；
obliging young man； and intelligent to a surprising degree for a
confectioner； well…principled； too； for in giving her useful hints
about choosing sugars he had thrown much light on the dishonesty of
other tradesmen。 Moreover； he had been in the West Indies； and had
seen the very estate which had been her poor grandfather's property；
and he said the missionaries were the only cause of the negro's
discontentan observing young man； evidently。 Mrs。 Chaloner
ordered wine…biscuits and olives； and gave Mr。 Freely to understand
that she should find his shop a great convenience。 So did the
doctor's wife； and so did Mrs。 Gate； at the large carding…mill； who；
having high connexions frequently visiting her； might be expected to
have a large consumption of ratafias and macaroons。
The less aristocratic matrons of Grimworth seemed likely at first to
justify their husbands' confidence that they would never pay a
percentage of profits on drop…cakes； instead of making their own； or
get up a hollow show of liberal housekeeping by purchasing slices of
collared meat when a neighbour came in for supper。 But it is my
task to narrate the gradual corruption of Grimworth manners from
their primitive simplicitya melancholy task； if it were not
cheered by the prospect of the fine peripateia or downfall by which
the progress of the corruption was ultimately checked。
It was young Mrs。 Steene； the veterinary surgeons wife； who first
gave way to temptation。 I fear she had been rather over…educated
for her station in life； for she knew by heart many passages in
Lalla Rookh； the Corsair； and the Siege of Corinth； which had given
her a distaste for domestic occupations； and caused her a withering
disappointment at the discovery that Mr。 Steene； since his marriage；
had lost all interest in the 〃bulbul；〃 openly preferred discussing
the nature of spavin with a coarse neighbour； and was angry if the
pudding turned out wateryindeed； was simply a top…booted 〃vet。〃；
who came in hungry at dinner…time； and not in the least like a
nobleman turned Corsair out of pure scorn for his race； or like a
renegade with a turban and crescent； unless it were in the
irritability of his temper。 And scorn is such a very different
thing in top…boots！
This brutal man had invited a supper…party for Christmas eve； when
he would expect to see mince…pies on the table。 Mrs。 Steene had
prepared her mince…meat； and had devoted much butter； fine flour；
and labour； to the making of a batch of pies in the morning； but
they proved to be so very heavy when they came out of the oven； that
she could only think with trembling of the moment when her husband
should catch sight of them on the supper…table。 He would storm at
her； she was certain； and before all the company； and then she
should never help crying： it was so dreadful to think she had come
to that； after the bulbul and everything！ Suddenly the thought
darted through her mind that THIS ONCE she might send for a dish of
mince…pies from Freely's： she knew he had some。 But what was to
become of the eighteen heavy mince…pies？ Oh； it was of no use
thinking about that； it was very expensiveindeed； making mince…
pies at all was a great expense； when they were not sure to turn out
well： it would be much better to buy them ready…made。 You paid a
little more for them； but there was no risk of waste。
Such was the sophistry with which this misguided young woman
enough。 Mrs。 Steene sent for the mince…pies； and； I am grieved to
add； garbled her household accounts in order to conceal the fact
from her husband。 This was the second step in a downward course；
all owing to a young woman's being out of harmony with her
circumstances； yearning after renegades and bulbuls； and being
subject to claims from a veterinary surgeon fond o