But when the morrow comes, and for many days after, Leslie Warburton is oblivious to all things earthly.
CHAPTER XLIII.
THE PRODIGAL BECOMES OBSTINATE.
When the door had closed behind Leslie and the old woman, Franz Francoise dropped his chin upon his breast, and leaning his broad shoulders against the door-frame, stood thinking, or half asleep, it would have been difficult to guess which; while Papa began a slow, cat-like promenade up and down the room, paying no heed to Franz or his occupation, and thinking, beyond a doubt.
After a little, Franz, arousing himself with a yawn, staggered to the nearest chair, and dropped once more into a listless attitude. In another moment, Mamma reëntered the room.
As she passed him, Franz laid a detaining hand upon her arm, and leering up into her face, whispered thickly:
“I say, old un, ye seem ter be troubled with gals. Don’t ye want me to git rid o’ this one fer ye?”
A moment the old woman pauses, and looks down at her Prodigal in silence. Then she brings her hideous face close to his and whispers:
“My boy, that other un, ef we’d a-kept her, ud a-done us hurt. This un, ef we kin keep her, will make all our fortunes.”