FORE:After all, fifty pounds and some furniture was very little to leave his only niece, who had lived with him, and had been married from his house. It was nonsense to plead the excuse that she was comfortably settled and provided forthe old man knew that Backfield had made a desperate plunge and could not recoup himself properly without ready money. He must have drawn up his will in the spirit of maliceReuben could imagine him grinning away in his grave. "Well, Ben Backfield, I've justabout sold you nicely, haven't I?next to no capital, tedious heavy expenses, and a wife who d?an't know the difference between a shilling and a soverun. You thought you'd done yourself unaccountable well, old feller, I reckon. Now you've found out your mistake. And you can't git even wud me where I am. He! He!"
FORE:"It's all part of the same idea, only of course he had many more things than I have. I'm a poor woman, and[Pg 446] lonely, and getting old. But"and a ring of exaltation came into her voice, and the light of it into her eyes"I want nothing.""Oh, what is it?what is it?" wailed Naomi"can't we do anything? Oh, why doesn't the doctor come?"
FORE:
THREE:"I won't see anything of the kind. I'm ashamed of you.""Yes, yes; but go, Lucy, and tell that Stephen Holgrave is here."
THREE:"Ye may tell King Richard that the Commons will meet him; but mind ye, and tell him to have no lords, nor men of law, nor any of that brood of bishops with him, if he wishes them to wear their heads;mind ye that, sir pursuivant."
