Chapter 5 - Page 2

entirely an under-statement."

"I never knew but one Haw," said old McIntyre, drumming his fingers on
the table; "he was a foreman in my pin-fire cartridge-case department.
But he was an elderly single man. Well, I hope he got it all honestly.
I hope the money is clean."

"And really, really, he is coming to see us!" cried Laura, clapping her
hands. "Oh, when do you think he will come, Robert? Do give me
warning. Do you think it will be to-morrow?"

"I am sure I cannot say."

"I should so love to see him. I don't know when I have been so
interested."

"Why, you have a letter there," remarked Robert. "From Hector, too, by
the foreign stamp. How is he?"

"It only came this evening. I have not opened it yet. To tell the
truth, I have been so interested in your story that I had forgotten all
about it. Poor old Hector! It is from Madeira." She glanced rapidly
over the four pages of straggling writing in the young sailor's bold
schoolboyish hand. "Oh, he is all right," she said. "They had a gale
on the way out, and that sort of thing, but he is all right now.
He thinks he may be back by March. I wonder whether your new friend
will come to-morrow--your knight of the enchanted Castle."

"Hardly so soon, I should fancy."

"If he should be looking about for an investment. Robert," said the
father, "you won't forget to tell him what a fine opening there is now
in the gun trade. With my knowledge, and a few thousands at my back, I
could bring him in his thirty per cent. as regular as the bank. After
all, he must lay out his money somehow. He cannot sink it all in books
and precious stones. I am sure that I could give him the highest
references."

"It may be a long time before he comes, father," said Robert coldly;"
and when he does I am afraid that I can hardly use his friendship as a
means of advancing your interest."

"We are his equals, father," cried Laura with spirit. "Would you put us
on the footing of beggars? He would think we cared for him only for his
money. I wonder that you should think of such a thing."

"If I had not thought of such things where would your education have
been, miss?" retorted the angry old man; and Robert stole quietly away
to his room, whence amid his canvases he could still hear the hoarse
voice and the clear in their never-ending family jangle. More and more
sordid seemed the surroundings of his life, and more and more to be
valued the peace which money can buy.

Breakfast had hardly been cleared in the morning, and Robert had not yet
ascended