Roxy Hastings — page 163: what you’re looking at

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

154 | ROXY HASTINGS. In the meantime he kept his secret also from his own family, with whom, while he saw that they wanted for no comfort and few luxuries, he continued to live in an unos- tentatious style, in the two-story wooden house, to which they had moved when his fortunes began to mend. : That he had a competence, or some business which yielded, at least, the most ample means of present support, his relations well knew, but they felt no security against the future, and his mother and sister often tried to check him in seeming extravagant expenditures. “It would be better to be a little more economical,” his mother said one day, “and then, if there is anything to spare, let poor Alfred travel this fall. He grows thinner and thinner, his appetite fails, and though he tries to keep up a show of spirits, I am sure he is miserable.” “Good Heaven, mother!” said Charles, “why have you not spoken of this sooner? I—I have been so much en- gaged, I have not noticed it. I thought he was quite com- fortable, and that he would come freely to me for anything he wanted. Indeed, I know he has some hundreds, for which he does not seem to find use.” | ‘‘Because he does not think he can afford to spend it for anything but necessaries. He told Laura only yesterday that he ought to be doing something, and not living here on you.” “Bless me! Ihad no idea of this. He must not feel like that. I have been very unkind and thoughtless.” “ But what can you do for him now 2?” * Anything you think proper. Anything he wishes.” ‘Perhaps you don’t appreciate the cost. He ought not to travel alone—” | ‘“He shall have a servant, and go where he will. He shall be stinted in nothing. Call him, Laura, if you can get him away from his books, to which he sticks quite too closely. Call him, and let’s have it settled.” “ His books keep up his spirits more than anything else, I believe. He has translated half a quire of odes from ‘Horace’ ” said Laura, “and I don’t know but he has taken to writing poetry himself.” “ Well, [am glad that he finds something to interest him. Poor fellow! he has had trouble enough.” ; alebes Alfred came he demurred to the proposed plan of ravel. “I think it’s quite bad enough,” he said, “that I am playing the drone at home, and bringing nothing into the hive, without wasting Charley’s money, which is needed Ecomicbooks.co ~~