He expected to do just what others were doing--to sell his stock and pocket the proceeds, while investors pocketed their losses.

It was all an acute business operation with him; and he intended to take advantage of the excitement of the time to "clean out" Sevenoaks and all the region round about his country home, while his confreres operated in their own localities.

He chuckled over his plans as if he contemplated some great, good deed that would be of incalculable benefit to his neighbors.

He suffered no qualm of conscience, no revolt of personal honor, no spasm of sympathy or pity.
As soon as he set out upon his journey homeward he began to think of his New York purchase.

He had taken a bold step, and he wished that he had said something to Mrs.Belcher about his plans, but he had been so much in the habit of managing everything in his business without consulting her, that it did not occur to him before he started from home that any matter of his was not exclusively his own.