"What do you mean? It does not work gratuitously," answered
Mr. Rossitur, with at least equal dryness.
"But, I mean, are the profits of it enough to pay for the loss of Hugh's time?"
"If Hugh judges they are not, he is at liberty to let it alone."
"My time is not lost," said Hugh; "I' don't know what I should do with it."
"I don't know what we should do without the mill," said Mrs.
Rossitur.
That gave Charlton an unlucky opening.
"Has the prospect of farming disappointed you, father?"
"What is the prospect of your company?" said Mr. Rossitur, swallowing half an egg before he replied.
"A very limited prospect!" said Charlton, "if you mean the one that went with me. Not a fifth part of them left."
"What have you done with them?"