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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 time , wishing to buy the carved table , and had rubbed elbows with Mr . Bambridge and Mr . Horrock . There was a wreath of Middlemarch ladies accommodated with seats round the large table in the dining - room , where Mr . Borthrop Trumbull was mounted with desk and hammer ; but the rows chiefly of masculine faces behind were often varied by incomings and outgoings both from the door and the large bow - window opening on to the lawn .
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