“I’m wishing I were, at all events,” he answered. “You must take the wish for the deed.”
“They say that there’s always plenty of work for any one who wants it,” answered Mrs. Lauderdale, coldly.
“If you’ll tell me where to find it—”
“Why don’t you go to the West, as young Bright did, and try to do something without help? Other men do.”
“Bright took money with him,” answered Ralston.
“Did he? Not much, then, I fancy. I know he lived a hard life and drove cattle—”
“And bought land in wild places which he found in the course of his cattle driving. The driving was a means of getting about—not unpleasant, either—and he had some money to invest. I could do the same, if I had any.”
“You know it’s quite useless, mother,” said Katharine, interposing before Mrs. Lauderdale could make another retort. “You all abuse him for doing nothing, and yet I hear you all say that every profession is overcrowded, and that nobody can do anything without capital. If uncle Robert chose, he could make Jack’s fortune by a turn of his hand.”
“Of course—he could give him a fortune outright and not feel it—unless he cared what became of it.”
There was something so harsh about the way in which she spoke the last words that Ralston and Katharine looked at each other. Ralston did not lose his temper, however, but tried to turn the subject with a laugh.