"You see, Priscilla," he said one evening, "it stands to reason that
if foreign corn pays a duty, the price of every quarter grown here is
raised, and this increased price goes into the farmer's or landlord's
pocket: Why should I, or why should my men, pay twopence more for
every loaf to buy Miss Wootton a piano?"
"Really, George, do you mean to say that they are going to buy Miss
Wootton a piano?"
"My dear, I said that when they buy a loaf of bread twopence out of
it goes to buy Miss Wootton's piano!" repeated George, laying an
emphasis on every word. "I did not mean, of course, that they put
their twopences in her pocket. The point is, that the duty enables
Wootton to get more for his corn."
"Well," said Priscilla triumphantly, "I can tell you she is NOT going
to have a piano. She's going to have a little organ instead, because
she can play tunes better on an organ, and it's more suitable for
her; so there's an end of that."
"It doesn't matter whether it is an organ or piano," said George,
"the principle is the same."
"Well, but you said a piano; I don't think the principle is the same.
If I were she I would sooner have the piano.
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