Part 113 (2/2)
”Well, but what sort?” said Rose laughing, while the other lady laid down her book and waited.
”With his own cursed weapons.”
”And what are those, Mr. Haye? you haven't told us which of the Landholms you mean, yet.”
”One of 'em hasn't any weapons but his fists and his tongue,”
said Mr. Haye. ”He hasn't tried the first on me -- I have some small knowledge of the last.”
”What has the other done?” said Elizabeth.
”He is doing what he can, to hinder my getting my rights of his brother.”
”What does his brother owe you?”
”Money, --” said Mr. Haye shortly.
”I suppose so. But what for?”
”Business! What does it signify what for?”
”I should like to know, father. It must be something which can be told.”
”He bought cotton of me.”
”Can he pay for it?”
”I suppose so. I'll try.”
”But what is his brother doing?”
”Trying to hinder, as I told you.”
”But how? How can he?”
”Don't ask me what lawyers can or can't do. They can put their fingers into any dirty job that offers!”
Elizabeth sat silent a minute with a very disturbed look. Rose had gone back to her netting, only glancing up once in a while at the faces of the other two.
”Upon what plea does he pretend to hinder it, father?”
”A plea he won't be able to bear out, I fancy,” said Mr. Haye, turning round in his chair so as to bring his other side to the fire, and not ceasing to look at the paper all this while.
”But what?”
”What does it signify _what!_ Something you can't understand.”
”I can understand it, father; and I want to know.”
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