I felt for the desolate old creature - the tears rushed to my eyes;
but there was no moisture in hers. No rain from the heart could
filter through that iron soil.
"Be assured, Mrs. R - -," said Moodie, "that the dead will be held
sacred; the place will never be disturbed by me."
"Perhaps not; but it is not long that you will remain here. I have
seen a good deal in my time; but I never saw a gentleman from the
old country make a good Canadian farmer. The work is rough and hard,
and they get out of humour with it, and leave it to their hired
helps, and then all goes wrong. They are cheated on all sides, and
in despair take to the whiskey bottle, and that fixes them. I tell
you what it is, mister - I give you just three years to spend your
money and ruin yourself; and then you will become a confirmed
drunkard, like the rest."
The first part of her prophecy was only too true. Thank God! the
last has never been fulfilled, and never can be.
Perceiving that the old woman was not a little elated with her
bargain, Mr. - - urged upon her the propriety of barring the dower.
At first, she was outrageous, and very abusive, and rejected all his
proposals with contempt; vowing that she would meet him in a certain
place below, before she would sign away her right to the property.
