MAN.”
ThefirstpartofHunsden’sspeechmovedmenotatall,or,ifitdid,itwasonlytowonderattheperversionintowhichprejudicehadtwistedhisjudgmentofmycharactertheconcludingsentence,however,notonlymoved,butshookmetheblowitgavewasasevereone,becauseTruthwieldedtheweapon.IfIsmilednow,it,wasonlyindisdainofmyself.
Hunsdensawhisadvantagehefolloweditup.
“You’llmakenothingbytrade,”continuedhe“nothingmorethanthecrustofdrybreadandthedraughtoffairwateronwhichyounowliveyouronlychanceofgettingacompetencyliesinmarryingarichwidow,orrunningawaywithanheiress.”
“Ileavesuchshiftstobeputinpracticebythosewhodevisethem,”saidI,rising.
“Andeventhatishopeless,”hewentoncoolly.“Whatwidowwouldhaveyou?Muchless,whatheiress?You’renotboldandventuresomeenoughfortheone,norhandsomeandfascinatingenoughfortheother.Youthinkperhapsyoulookintelligentandpolishedcarryyourintellectandrefinementtomarket,andtellmeinaprivatenotewhatpriceisbidforthem.”
Mr.Hunsdenhadtakenhistoneforthenightthestringhestruckwasoutoftune,hewouldfingernoother.Aversetodiscord,ofwhichIhadenougheverydayandalldaylong,Iconcluded,atlast,thatsilenceandsolitudewerepreferabletojarringconverseIbadehimgood-night.
“What!Areyougoing,lad?Well,good-night:you’llfindthedoor.”Andhesatstillinfrontofthefire,whileIlefttheroomandthehouse.IhadgotagoodwayonmyreturntomylodgingsbeforeIfoundoutthatIwaswalkingveryfast,andbreathingveryhard,andthatmynailswerealmoststuckintothepalmsofmyclenchedhands,andthatmyteethweresetfastonmakingthisdiscovery,Irelaxedbothmypace,fists,andjaws,butIcouldnotsosooncausetheregretsrushingrapidlythroughmymindtoslackentheirtide.WhydidImakemyselfatradesman?WhydidIenterHunsden’shousethisevening?Why,atdawnto-morrow,mustIrepairtoCrimsworth’smill?AllthatnightdidIaskmyselfthesequestions,andallthatnightfiercelydemandedofmysoulananswer.Igotnosleepmyheadburned,myfeetfrozeatlastthefactorybellsrang,andIsprangfrommybedwithotherslaves.