Roxy Hastings — page 192: what you’re looking at

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

a ROXY HASTINGS. 183 that he had very black eyebrows which seemed trying to be a substitute for the whiskers or mustache which he had never been able to raise. Tom’s eyes and hair, like his eyebrows, were of the color of the sloe, and as he usually dressed in black, he looked somber enough when dejected, which was not often. A pleasant word, or a smile, or a joke, always aroused him, and on such occasions the light that flashed from his eyes and teeth was quite dazzling. “T’'ve been offered a partnership in Gregg & Wilson’s if I could raise ten thousand dollars,” he said to Emily, “but they might as'well ask for ten millions; my chance of getting it would be the same.” “How came they to offer it to you?” “Don’t know. Their junior has retired in consequence of his father getting very rich by shoddy, and wanting to send him abroad.” “Yes, but what reason had they to suppose you could raise such a sum ?” “Oh, they knew that I had two rich relations, which, in my opinion, is just equal to having none. A single rich relative may assist you, but when there are two each of them thinks the other can do it as well as he, and so, while the world counts you lucky, you are as badly off as if all your kind were paupers.” “Tt won’t do to depend on relations.” _«T know that: I never did, but it’s aggravating to think that Uncle Joe could make our fortune here without losing or risking a dollar—for everybody knows that Gregg S&S Wilson are ‘A No. 1.’.” “So T have always heard.” | “And he’d get his interest and all, safe as from any. other investment.” “ Have you asked him?” “No. Mother hinted it, but he said everything he had was locked up in one operation and another, but there was Thomas. And Thomas said he had no confidence in mer- -cantile business in these days, but there was Joe.” “They're selfish men—but all are not so.” “Mostly of one pattern, I reckon. No, a young man must depend on his own muscle and his own brains, and then if he gets any help, well and good. I think I shall go to China.” | “To China, Tom.” “Ves, I’ve got a chance as supercargo on a ship of Hart Brothers. I’ll at least get my living for the next year, and save afew hundreds. I’m only an expense here.” ¢com (@) Doo CS (e(0)