'And there is nothing above you yet, but the water and the land?'
'No. Nor like to be. The head of the valley is owned by Gov.
Powder; and he has neither means nor inclination to do anything
with it. It would be better for me to own it, though. Why,
Hazel?'with a smile.
'Why had you better own it?'
'I want to get control of the whole Hollow as fast as I can; and then, I want to keep the control.'
'Well, but why don't you then?' said Hazel. 'What is the use of waiting?'
'I am not ready to build more mills yet. And there are other reasons, Hazel. Mr. Falkirk thinks I am jeopardizing my money. I do not think so, nor intend it. I believe in the long run I shall prosper. But for the present, and for awhile, I shall be at a disadvantage, it may be; because I am paying larger wages and receiving less profits than my neighbours, and I must keep capital free to bear me and my workmen out through the time of trialif it is to come. I mean never to have so much capital embarked in the mills, that I should have nothing to carry my hands and myself through a dead calm. You see' Rollo continued with again a smile,'being a careful navigator, I mean to carry the wind in my pocket.'
Hazel followed his words with attentive eyes as well as ears, and then went off into a brown study, with her chin on her hand.
'Well,' said Rollo, 'what is all this catechism for?'
'It is good practice,' she said, coming out of her abstraction with a laugh. 'I suppose you never knew before that there are two sides to a catechism?'
'Go on,' said Rollo. 'This is the beginning.'