Said Bell, “It's a burden that's easy put up with. We'll be able now to get a new pair of curtains for the back bedroom.”
“A pair of curtains!” said her brother, with a smile to Ailie. “Ay, a score of pairs if they're needed, even if the vogue was Valenciennes. Your notion of wealth, Bell, is Old Malabar's—'Twopence more, and up goes the donkey!' Woman, I'm fair rolling in wealth.” He said it with a kind of exultation that brought to her face a look of fear and disapproval. “Don't, Dan, don't,” she cried—“don't brag of the world's dross; it's not like you. 'He that hasteth to be rich shall not be innocent,' says the Proverbs. You must be needing medicine. We should have humble hearts. How many that were high have had a fall!”
“Are you frightened God will hear me and me His bounty?” said the brother, in a whisper. “I'm not bragging; I'm just telling you.”
“I hope you're not hoarding it,” proceeded Miss Bell. “It's not wiselike—”
“Nor Dyce-like either,” said Miss Ailie.
“There's many a poor body in the town this winter that's needful.”
“I dare say,” said Daniel Dyce, coldly. “'The poor we have always with us.' The thing, they tell me, is decreed by Providence.”
“But Providence is not aye looking,” said Bell. “If that's what you're frightened for, I'll be your almoner.”
“It's their own blame, you may be sure, if they're poor. Improvidence and—and drink. I'll warrant they have their glass of ale every Saturday. What's ale? Is there any moral elevation in it? Its nutritive quality, I believe, is less than the tenth part of a penny loaf.”
“Oh, but the poor creatures!” sighed Miss Bell. “Possibly,” said Dan Dyce, “but every man must look after himself; and as you say, many a man well off has come down in the world. We should take no risks. I had Black the baker at me yesterday for £20 in loan to tide over some trouble with his flour merchant and pay an account to Miss Minto.”