To old Tom Hamon his coming was wholly welcome. It foreshadowed a strong
and more energetic development of the mines and the speedier realization
of his most earnest desires.
To Mrs. Hamon it meant some extra household work, which she would gladly
undertake since it was her husband's wish to have the stranger live with
them, though in his absorption by the mines she had no sympathy
whatever.
Nance looked upon him merely as a part of the mines, and therefore to
be detested along with the noisy engine-house, the pumps, the damp and
dirty miners, and all the rest of it--the coming of which had so
completely spoiled her much-loved Sark.
Tom disliked him because he made him feel small and boorish, and of a
commoner make. And feelings such as that inevitably try to disprove
themselves by noisy self-assertion.
Accordingly Tom--after various jocular remarks in patois to Peter, who
would have laughed at them had he dared, but, knowing Nance's feelings
towards her brother was not sure how she would take it--loudly and
provocatively to Gard--
"Expect to make them mines pay, monsieur?"
"Well, I hope so.
Pages:
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51