Roxy Hastings — page 151: what you’re looking at

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

oa SRN Sl Ais, Ro OP - - § yt —_ ' = Y= : bs i . 142 ROXY HASTINGS. “You should brave public opinion instead of bending to it. People never laugh much at those who do not heed them.” “True. Why, you are quite a philosopher. But what shall I do? There’s my house and-furniture. I dare not. sell off the things at auction, as I want to, for I know what the jeering crowd will say when they get together there. The very auctioneer will make fun—I see his eyes twinkle and the smile twitching at the corners of his mouth—as he puts up the articles in the bride’s boudoir and comments on their beauty.” “You are ingenious at self-torture.” ‘But I ask again—what shall I do? How shall I brave public opinion ?” ‘“Do whatever you choose, only do it boldly and openly. But if I might suggest—”’ There was another little blush. 2 “Pray do not hesitate. You are a most sensible woman.” The blush did not diminish as Mrs. Bright continued : “I should advise You to marry some one else very speed- ily, and go to housekeeping in style in that very house. Get a wife suited to your years, yet young enough and handsome enough to make some figure in the fashionable world, when dressed as you can afford to dress her. Spend your money freely for a year or two, give fine parties, and my word for it, you’ll shut the mouths of the babblers and have society at your feet.” Jedediah listened, open-mouthed, to this speech, and replied in a transport : “It’s true, every word of it. Then we could travel, too.” “Don’t think such a thing until you have lived down public censure. Then you can go and come as you choose.” “Why, you are a Solomon in—in crinoline, my dear madam,” said Burr, laughing, “and I’ll certainly follow your advice, if—if—” - ‘“ What’s the ‘if? now, Mr. Burr?” “Why, if I can find the lady, to be sure—handsome, amiable, sensible, stylish—neither young nor old, and who will fancy me. Hic labor, hoc opus est. Excuse the Latin, but it means that it is a d—1 of a job.” Jedediah stared hard at the widow as he said this, and called some fresh color to her cheeks. He talked on, walk- ing about, and surveying her from various points as he did O. ‘“There’s Miss Boker in this very house,” continued the Gomicbooks:.co