But such property, as he well knew, was, by its nature, precarious and liable to sudden changes.

He had been fortunate, and the purchasers had been the reverse Of that he had no doubt, though probably the man had exaggerated his own misfortune.

When he had been given to understand how bad had been the fate of these old companions of his in the matter, with the feelings of a liberal gentleman he was anxious to share with them the loss.

Had Crinkett come to him, explaining all that he now explained, without any interference from Euphemia Smith, he would have been anxious to do much.

But now;--how could he do anything now?
'I do not at all disbelieve what you tell me about the mine,' he said.
'And yet you won't do anything for us?
You ain't above taking all our money and seeing us starve; and that when you have got everything round you here like an estated gentleman, as you are ?' There was a touch of eloquence in this, a soundness of expostulation which moved him much.