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Our tire will soon be mended." The young man assented heartily, but as I said before, I was bent on taking Parnassus back myself. I thought the sight of his own tabernacle would be the best balm for Mifflin's annoying experience. So I refused the offer, and explained the situation a little more fully. "Well," he said, "then let me help in any way I can."
Twenty-five members were come. Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, and the city of New York were not arrived. "2, Friday. Dined at Mr. Thomas Mifflin's with Mr. Lynch, Mr. Middleton, and the two Rutledges with their ladies.... We were very sociable and happy.
He could hear every syllable distinctly. A hot perspiration burst out on his forehead and in the palms of his hands. "Hullo," said Roger. "Yes," said Titania. "Is that you, Mr. Mifflin? Where are you?" "In Philadelphia," said Roger. "Tell me, is everything all right?" "Everything's dandy," said Titania. "I'm selling loads of books. Mrs. Mifflin's gone out to do some shopping."
"I don't think anybody who talks German round back alleys at night is a harmless old thing," said Aubrey. Let me show you something." He pulled the book cover out of his pocket, and pointed to the annotations in it. "That's Mifflin's handwriting," said Titania, pointing to the upper row of figures. "He puts notes like that in all his favourite books.
Mifflin's general plan in towns, he had told me, was to halt Parnassus in front of the principal store or hotel, and when a little throng had gathered he would put up the flaps of the van, distribute his cards, and deliver a harangue on the value of good books. I lay concealed inside, but I gathered from the sounds that this was what was happening.
Joseph Reed, the lawyer; ... spent the evening at Mr. Mifflin's, with Lee and Harrison from Virginia, the two Rutledges, Dr. Witherspoon, Dr. Shippen, Dr. Steptoe, and another gentleman; an elegant supper, and we drank sentiments till eleven o'clock. Lee and Harrison were very high. Lee had dined with Mr. Dickinson, and drank Burgundy the whole afternoon."
Mifflin's objection to having Lee ranked under Ward, as being beneath his dignity and merits, he himself made no scruple to acquiesce; though, judging from his supercilious character, and from circumstances in his subsequent conduct, he no doubt considered himself vastly superior to the provincial officers placed over him.
This day we breakfasted at Mr. Mifflin's. Mr. C. Thomson came in, and soon after Dr. Smith, the famous Dr. Smith, the provost of the college.... We then went to return visits to the gentlemen who had visited us. We visited a Mr. Cadwallader, a gentleman of large fortune, a grand and elegant house and furniture. We then visited Mr. Powell, another splendid seat.
Some kind of catch clicked, the flap remained up like a roof, displaying nothing but books rows and rows of them. The flank of his van was nothing but a big bookcase. Shelves stood above shelves, all of them full of books both old and new. As I stood gazing, he pulled out a printed card from somewhere and gave it to me: ROGER MIFFLIN'S TRAVELLING PARNASSUS What librarian can surpass us?
From his place in the corner he could command the strip of pavement in front of Mifflin's shop. Halfway through the stew he saw Roger come out onto the pavement and begin to remove the books from the boxes. After finishing his supper he lit one of his "mild but they satisfy" cigarettes and sat in the comfortable warmth of a near-by radiator. A large black cat lay sprawled on the next chair.
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