Volume I Part 46 (1/2)
Fleda sat in the corner with the heartache, to see her uncle's gloomy tramp up and down the rich apartment, and her aunt Lucy's gaze at him.
”Humph! ? well! ? So!” said the Doctor, at last, ”You've all gone overboard with a smash, I understand?”
The walker gave him no regard.
”True, is it?” said the doctor.
Mr. Rossitur made no answer, unless a smothered grunt might be taken for one.
”How came it about?”
”Folly and devilry.”
”Humph! ? bad capital to work upon. I hope the princ.i.p.al is gone with the interest. What's the amount of your loss?”
”Ruin.”
”Humph! French ruin, or American ruin? because there's a difference. What do you mean?”
”I am not so happy as to understand you, Sir; but we shall not pay seventy cents, on the dollar.”
The old gentleman got up, and stood before the fire, with his back to Mr. Rossitur, saying, ”That was rather bad.”
”What are you going to do?”
Mr. Rossitur hesitated a few moments for an answer, and then said ?
”Pay the seventy cents, and begin the world anew with nothing.”
”Of course,” said the doctor. ”I understand that; but where and how? What end of the world will you take up first?.”
Mr. Rossitur writhed in impatience or disgust, and after again hesitating, answered drily, that he had not determined.
”Have you thought of anything in particular?”
”Zounds! no, Sir, nothing except my misfortune. That's enough for one day.”
”And too much,” said the old doctor, ”unless you can mix some other thought with it. That's what I came for. Will you go into business?”
Fleda was startled by the vehemence with which her uncle said, ”No, never!” and he presently added, ”I'll do nothing here.”
”Well, well,” said the doctor to himself; ”will you go into the country?”
”Yes! ? anywhere! the further the better.”
Mrs. Rossitur startled, but her husband's face did not encourage her to open her lips.
”Ay; but on a farm, I mean?”
”On anything, that will give me a standing.”