"How come you to have it to sell?"
"Because it was mortgaged to me — years ago — and I can't get either principal or interest; so I am taking the best way I can to secure my rights."
"But Mr. Landholm was your friend?"
"Certainly — but I am a better friend to myself. Can't do business with your friends on different principles from those you go upon with other people, Lizzie."
Elizabeth looked at him, with eyes that would have annihilated a large portion of Mr. Haye's principles, if they had been sentient things. Rose began a running fire of entreaties that he would have nothing to do with Shahweetah, for that she could not bear the place. Elizabeth brought her eyes back to her plate, but probably she still saw Mr. Haye there, for the expression of them did not change.
"I'm not going to have anything to do with the place, Rose," said Mr. Haye — "further than to get it off my hands. I don't want to live there any more than you do. All I want to do is to pay myself."
"Father," said Elizabeth looking up quietly, "I'll buy it of you."
"You!" said Mr. Haye, — while Rose went off into a succession of soft laughs.
"Do you care who does it, so that you get the money?"
"No, — but what will you do with it?"