He
scamped, too, his six-months' attempt at digging--he had been no more
fit for the work than a child. Worn to skin and bone, his small
remaining strength sucked out by dysentery, he had in the end bartered
his last pinch of gold-dust for a barrow-load of useful odds and ends;
and this had formed the nucleus of his store. Here, fortune had smiled
on him; his flag hardly set a-flying custom had poured in, business gone
up by leaps and bounds--"Although I have never sold so much as a pint
of spirits, sir!" His profits for the past six months equalled a clear
three hundred, and he had most of this to the good. With a wife to keep,
expenses would naturally be heavier; but he should continue to lay by
every spare penny, with a view to getting back to England.
"You have not the intention, then, of remaining permanently in the
colony?"
"Not the least in the world."
"H'm," said John: he was standing on the hearthrug now, his legs apart.
"That, of course, puts a different complexion on the matter. Still, I
may say I am entirely reassured by what you have told me--entirely so.
Indeed, you must allow me to congratulate you on the good sense you
displayed in striking while the iron was hot. Many a one of your medical
brethren, sir, would have thought it beneath his dignity to turn
shopkeeper. And now, Mr. Mahony, I will wish you good day; we shall
doubtless meet again before very long. Nay, one moment! There are cases,
you will admit, in which a female opinion is not without value.
Pages:
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127