'No one at all,' said Joseph Bownman, in the tone of a man fully agreeing with everybody.
'Ay,' said Mail, in the tone of a man who did not agree with everybody as a rule, though he did now; 'I knowed an auctioneering feller once—a very friendly feller 'a was too. And so one day, as I was walking down the front street of Casterbridge, I passed a shop-door and see him inside, stuck upon his perch, a-selling off. I jist nodded to en in a friendly way as I passed, and went my way, and thought no more about it. Well, next day, as I was oilen my boots by fuel-house door, if a letter didn't come wi' a bill in en, charging me with a feather-bed, bolster, and pillers, that I had bid for at Mr. Taylor's sale. The slim-faced martel had knocked 'em down to me because I nodded to en in my friendly way; and I had to pay for 'em too. Now,
