The gentlemen assured her that they were not tired, and could
dispense with seats. Mr. - - then went up to the old woman, and
proffering his hand, asked after her health in his blandest manner.
"I'm none the better for seeing you, or the like of you," was the
ungracious reply. "You have cheated my poor boy out of his good
farm; and I hope it may prove a bad bargain to you and yours."
"Mrs. R - -," returned the land speculator, nothing ruffled by her
unceremonious greeting, "I could not help your son giving way to
drink, and getting into my debt. If people will be so imprudent,
they cannot be so stupid as to imagine that others can suffer for
their folly."
"Suffer!" repeated the old woman, flashing her small, keen black
eyes upon him with a glance of withering scorn. "You suffer! I
wonder what the widows and orphans you have cheated would say to
that? My son was a poor, weak, silly fool, to be sucked in by the
like of you. For a debt of eight hundred dollars - the goods never
cost you four hundred - you take from us our good farm; and these,
I s'pose," pointing to my husband and me, "are the folk you sold
it to. Pray, miss," turning quickly to me, "what might your man
give for the place?"
"Three hundred pounds in cash."
"Poor sufferer!" again sneered the hag.
