"Don't be alarmed, sir," replied the builder; "every house in the row will be finished before the winter. We really cannot attend to the applications for them." We entered the house. "Is not the entrance handsome?" observed my wife; "so neat and clean." To this I had not a reply to make; it certainly did look neat and clean. We went into the dining-room. "What a nice room," exclaimed my eldest daughter. "How many can we dine in this room?" "Um!" replied I; "about twelve, I suppose, comfortably." "Dear me!" observed the builder; "you have no notion of the size of the house; rooms are so deceiving, unfurnished. You may sit down twenty with ease; I'll appeal to the lady. Don't you think so, ma'am?" "Yes, I do," replied my wife. After that we went over the drawing-rooms, bed-rooms, and attics. Every bed-room was apportioned by my wife and daughters, and the others were allotted to the servants; and that in the presence of the builder, who took good note of all that passed. The kitchen was admired; so were the pantry, scullery, coal-hole, dust-hole, etcetera; all so nice and clean; so compact; and, as the builder observed, not a nail to drive anywhere. "Well, my dear, what do you think now? isn't it a charming house?" said my wife, as we re-ascended into the dining-parlour. "It's a very nice house, my dear; but still it requires a little consideration," replied I. "Consideration, my dear?" replied my wife; "what! now that you have gone over it?" "I am afraid that I cannot give you very long, sir," observed the builder; "there are two other parties after the house, and I am to give them an answer by two o'clock." "Mr Smithers told me the same yesterday," whispered my wife. "What did you say the rent was, Mr Smithers?" "Only 200 pounds per annum." "Any ground-rent?" "Only 27 pounds 10 shillings." "And the taxes?" "Oh, they will be a mere trifle." "The rent appears to me to be very high." "High, my dear sir! consider the situation, the advantages. We can't build them fast enough at that price. But of course, sir, you best know," replied he, carelessly walking towards the window. "Take it; my dear," said my wife. "You must take it, papa." "Pray take it, papa." "Mr Whats-your-name, I beg your pardon--" "Smithers, sir," said the builder, turning round. "Pray, Mr Smithers, what term of lease do you let at?" "Seven, fourteen, or twenty-one, at the option of either party, sir." "I should have no objection to take it for three years." "Three years, my dear sir!--that would be doing yourself an injustice. You would lose half the value of your fixtures provided you left--and then the furniture. Depend upon it, sir, if you once get into it, you will never wish to leave it." "That may or not be," replied I; "but I will not take it for more than three years. The town-air may not agree with me; and if, as you say, people are so anxious to take the houses, of course it can make no difference to you."