SEARCH
0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Prev | Current Page 716 | Next

Reade, Charles, 1814-1884

"Hard Cash"

Do you think them as sent you here will let you spend your money?
No, your money is theirs now."
And he sat down with the plate on his knee and began to cut the meat in
small pieces; while his careless words entered Alfred's heart, and gave
him such a glimpse of sinister motives and dark acts to come as set him
shuddering.
"Come none o' that," said the man, suspecting this shudder. He thought it
was the prologue to some desperate act; for all a chained madman does is
read upon this plan: his terror passes for rage, his very sobs for
snarls.
"Oh, be honest with me," said Alfred imploringly; "do you think it is to
steal my money the wretch has stolen my liberty?"
"What wretch?"
"My father."
"I know nothing about it," said the man sullenly, "in course there's
mostly money behind, when young gents like you come to be took care of.
But you musn't go thinking of that, or you'll excite yourself again. Come
you eat your vittles like a Christian, and no more about it."
"Leave it, that is a good fellow; and then I'll try and eat a little
by-and-bye. But my grief is great--oh Julia! Julia! what shall I do? And
I am not used to eat at this time.


Pages:
704 705 706 707 708 709 710 711 712 713 714 715 716 717 718 719 720 721 722 723 724 725 726 727 728