Nancy would be informed of the cause of the commotion in the house; and
when she had in some degree ascertained its nature, she wasted no time
in asking further questions, but quietly got up and dressed herself;
and appeared among them, weak and trembling, indeed, but so calm and
thoughtful, that her presence was an infinite help to Maggie.
When day closed in, Edward stole down to the house once more. He was
haggard enough to have been in anxiety and concealment for a month. But
when his body was refreshed, his spirits rose in a way inconceivable to
Maggie. The Spaniards who went out with Pizarro were not lured on by more
fantastic notions of the wealth to be acquired in the New World than he
was. He dwelt on these visions in so brisk and vivid a manner, that he even
made his mother cease her weary weeping (which had lasted the livelong day,
despite all Maggie's efforts) to look up and listen to him.
"I'll answer for it," said he: "before long I'll be an American judge with
miles of cotton plantations."
"But in America," sighed out his mother.
"Never mind, mother!" said he, with a tenderness which made Maggie's heart
glad. "If you won't come over to America to me, why, I'll sell them all,
and come back to live in England. People will forget the scrapes that the
rich American got into in his youth."
"You can pay back Mr. Buxton then," said his mother.
Pages:
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144