"Look here," said he to himself, as he tore along, "even if Carrick
were to set me all clear and straight--and I dare say he might, if I
told him the bother I am in--where would be the good? It would not
forward me. I wouldn't stop at Galloway's another month to be made into
a royal duke. If he'd take back Arthur with honours, and Jenkins came
out of his cough and his thinness and returned, I don't know but I
might do violence to my inclination and remain. I can't, as it is. I
should go dead with the worry and the work."
Roland paused, fighting for an instant with a puff of wind and dust.
Then he resumed:
"I'd pay my debts if I could; but, if I can't, what am I to do but
leave them unpaid? Much better get the money from Carrick to start me
off to Port Natal, and set me going there. Then, when I have made
enough, I'll send the cash to Arthur, and get him to settle up for me.
I don't want to cheat the poor wretches out of their money; I'd rather
pay 'em double than do that. Some of them work hard enough to get it:
almost as hard as I do at Galloway's; and they have a right to their
own. In three months' time after landing, I shall be able to do the
thing liberally. I'll make up my mind from to-night, and go: I know it
will be all for the best. Besides, there's the other thing."
What the "other thing" might mean, Mr. Roland did not state more
explicitly. He came to another pause, and then went on again.
Pages:
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611