I made him no answer, being angry at his ill-timed common-place.
"If you please, Miss, such a many lambs was never known afore, and turnips fine last winter, and corn, and hay, and every kind of stock, a fetching of such prices. The farmers about here has made their fortune mainly."
"I am glad to hear that you are so prosperous, Mr. Huxtable," I answered, very coldly.
"Yes fie, good times, Miss, wonderful good times, we don't know what to do with our money a'rnost."
"Buy education and good taste," I said, "instead of thrusting your happiness upon such as I."
How little I knew him! Shall I ever forgive myself that speech?
"Ah, I wish I could," he answered, sadly, "I wish with all my heart I could. But we must be born to the like of that, I am afeared, Miss Vaughan."
Poor fellow! he knew nothing of irony, as we do, who are born to good taste, otherwise I might have suspected him of it then.
He suddenly wished me "good evening," although it was middle-day, and then he made off for the door, but came back again with a desperate resolve, and spoke, for him, very quickly, looking all the time at his feet.
"There, I can't make head or tail of it, Miss Clara, but wife said I was to do it so. Take the danged money, that's a dear, and for good now don't be offended, for I cas'n help it."