Roxy Hastings — page 149: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

~— 140 ROXY HASTINGS. “Vos, I should hope so,’’ he said. ‘‘Four times that and more, Mrs. Bright, but I’d give half of it to-day to— TOV ‘“What?” asked the widow. ‘To recall the past,” said Burr, rising and walking across the room to where the lady sat, covering half the sofa with her voluminous crinoline. The widow pulled in her robes slightly as he approached, as if to make room for him, and Jedediah, taking the hint, sat down beside her. ‘‘“How much of the past does my unhappy friend wish to recall?” asked Mrs. Bright, smiling enough to show the tips of her glittering teeth. ‘“Tll tell you, madam. Since I have heretofore made you my confidante when—when I was happy, I will do the same in my present absolute misery, provided it is not disagreeable to you.” ‘Certainly not; I feel honored by such a proof of your friendship. But ‘absolute misery’ is a strong term, Mr. Burr.” ‘‘Not too strong for my case. I wish I knew one stronger. I would use that. As itis, I say absolute misery.” ‘‘T am sure that I am sorry for you, sir.” “You ask me how much of the past I would recall. Just five months, which would take me back to a period pre- vious to my engagement to Miss Holden.” “But, my dear sir, bereavement is common—” ‘“Bah! I am not suffering from bereavement, madam, You know better.” ‘‘I—beg your pardon.” ‘‘T am not suffering from bereavement.” Mrs. B. replied only by a look. “You know,” continued Jedediah, “what the world says about this matter—” | The widow shook her head slowly. . ““And if you do not, orif you are too good-natured to own it, I atleast do. It says that Lucy was neither ill nor insane, except as she was made so by the attempt to com: pel her to marry a man too old for her, and whom she did not like. It says that she ran away from home to get rid of — me, and that she drowned herself to get rid of me. That’s what it says.” “You shock me. I know the world is censorious, but I have never heard this.” “ Yet it would not be so much out of the way if it would lay the blame where it chiefly belongs.” Gomicbooks.co