We must have our rights, widow, or we must be bought
off. But you know that, as well as I, so where is the use of talking?'
She still walked wildly to and fro. At length, stopping abruptly before
him, she said:
'Is he near here?'
'He is. Close at hand.'
'Then I am lost!'
'Not lost, widow,' said the blind man, calmly; 'only found. Shall I call
him?'
'Not for the world,' she answered, with a shudder.
'Very good,' he replied, crossing his legs again, for he had made as
though he would rise and walk to the door. 'As you please, widow. His
presence is not necessary that I know of. But both he and I must live;
to live, we must eat and drink; to eat and drink, we must have money:--I
say no more.'
'Do you know how pinched and destitute I am?' she retorted. 'I do not
think you do, or can. If you had eyes, and could look around you on this
poor place, you would have pity on me. Oh! let your heart be softened by
your own affliction, friend, and have some sympathy with mine.'
The blind man snapped his fingers as he answered:
'--Beside the question, ma'am, beside the question. I have the softest
heart in the world, but I can't live upon it. Many a gentleman lives
well upon a soft head, who would find a heart of the same quality a very
great drawback.
Pages:
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607