He was at
least civil to him, and instead of receiving him as before, said,--
'I thought you would never come; but I suppose prosperous people are
never in a great hurry to visit the unfortunate. Ha! ha! Certainly my
reception-rooms are not very inviting.'
'I came as soon as I could gain admittance. I wish you would believe,
Howel, that I am very anxious to be of any use to you that I can. You
know that you refused to see me before.'
'And it is no great compliment now; this confounded place will kill me.
I have been haunted by spectres all the night, five thousand times worse
than a voyage to Australia. That will be amusing, ha! ha! But to have my
father in one corner, and--and Netta in the other,--and that cursed
money rolling about everywhere, just as it did--well, never mind that!
but hanging outright would have been better. Don't preach; it is no
good; I am far beyond that, and I know you have your sermon ready; but
your presence is some relief after such a night. I tell you what it is,
Rowland, if you are a better and a happier man than I, it is because you
had honest parents; it is no merit of yours, and no fault of mine.'
'Howel, I claim no merit; but we are all responsible for our own
actions, God forgive those who set a bad example: they will have to
answer for it.
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