wonderedatitwasamorepracticalandsensibleprecautionthanIshouldhaveimaginedyoucapableof.Whydidyouleave?”
“BecauseM.PelethasjustmarriedtheladywhomyouandMr.Brownassignedtomeasmywife.”
“Oh,indeed!”repliedHunsdenwithashortlaugh“soyou’velostbothyourwifeandyourplace?”
“Preciselyso.”
Isawhimgiveaquick,covertglanceallroundmyroomhemarkeditsnarrowlimits,itsscantyfurniture:inaninstanthehadcomprehendedthestateofmatters—hadabsolvedmefromthecrimeofprosperity.AcuriouseffectthisdiscoverywroughtinhisstrangemindIammorallycertainthatifhehadfoundmeinstalledinahandsomeparlour,loungingonasoftcouch,withapretty,wealthywifeatmyside,hewouldhavehatedmeabrief,cold,haughtyvisit,wouldinsuchacasehavebeentheextremelimitofhiscivilities,andneverwouldhehavecomenearmemore,solongasthetideoffortuneboremesmoothlyonitssurfacebutthepaintedfurniture,thebarewalls,thecheerlesssolitudeofmyroomrelaxedhisrigidpride,andIknownotwhatsofteningchangehadtakenplacebothinhisvoiceandlookerehespokeagain.
“Youhavegotanotherplace?”
“No.”
“Youareinthewayofgettingone?”
“No.”
“ThatisbadhaveyouappliedtoBrown?”
“No,indeed.”
“Youhadbetterheoftenhasitinhispowertogiveusefulinformationinsuchmatters.”
“HeservedmeonceverywellIhavenoclaimonhim,andamnotinthehumourtobotherhimagain.”
“Oh,ifyou’rebashful,anddreadbeingintrusive,youneedonlycommissionme.Ishallseehimto-nightIcanputinaword.”
“Ibegyouwillnot,Mr.HunsdenIaminyourdebtalreadyyoudidmeanimportantservicewhenIwasatX——gotmeoutofadenwhereIwasdying:thatserviceIhaveneverrepaid,andatpresentIdeclinepositivelyaddinganotheritemtotheaccount.”
“Ifthewindsitsthatway,I’msatisfied.Ithoughtmyunexampledgenerosityinturningyououtofthataccursedcounting-housewouldbedulyappreciatedsomeday:‘Castyourbreadonthewaters,anditshallbefoundaftermanydays,’saytheScriptures.Yes,that’sright,lad—makemuchofme—I’manonpareil:there’snothinglikemeinthecommonherd.Inthemeantime,toputallhumbugasideandtalksenseforafewmoments,youwouldbegreatlythebetterofasituation,andwhatismore,youareafoolifyourefusetotakeonefromanyhandthatoffersit.”
“Verywell,Mr.Hunsdennowyouhavesettledthatpoint,talkofsomethingelse.WhatnewsfromX——?”
“Ihavenotsettledthatpoint,oratleastthereisanothertosettlebeforewegettoX——.IsthisMissZenobie”(Zoraide,interposedI)—“well,Zoraide—isshereallymarriedtoPelet?”
“Itellyouyes—andifyoudon’tbelieveme,goandaskthecureofSt.Jacques.”
“Andyourheartisbroken?”
“Iamnotawarethatitisitfeelsallright—beatsasusual.”
“The