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we must be bought off。 But you know that； as well as I； so where is
the use of talking？’
She still walked wildly to and fro。 At length； stopping abruptly
before him； she said：
‘Is he near here？’
‘He is。 Close at hand。’
‘Then I am lost！’
‘Not lost； widow；’ said the blind man； calmly； ‘only found。 Shall
I call him？’
‘Not for the world；’ she answered； with a shudder。
‘Very good；’ he replied； crossing his legs again； for he had made
as though he would rise and walk to the door。 ‘As you please；
widow。 His presence is not necessary that I know of。 But both he
and I must live； to live； we must eat and drink； to eat and drink； we
must have money：—I say no more。’
‘Do you know how pinched and destitute I am？’ she retorted。 ‘I
do not think you do； or can。 If you had eyes； and could look around
you on this poor place； you would have pity on me。 Oh！ let your
heart be softened by your own affliction； friend； and have some
sympathy with mine。’
The blind man snapped his fingers as he answered：
‘—Beside the question； ma’am； beside the question。 I have the
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softest heart in the world； but I can’t live upon it。 Many a
gentleman lives well upon a soft head； who would find a heart of
the same quality a very great drawback。 Listen to me。 This is a
matter of business； with which sympathies and sentiments have
nothing to do。 As a mutual friend； I wish to arrange it in a
satisfactory manner； if possible； and thus the case stands。—If you
are very poor now； it’s your own choice。 You have friends who； in
case of need； are always ready to help you。 My friend is in a more
destitute and desolate situation than most men； and； you and he
being linked together in a common cause； he naturally looks to
you to assist him。 He has boarded and lodged with me a long time
（for as I said just now； I am very soft…hearted）； and I quite approve
of his entertaining this opinion。 You have always had a roof over
your head； he has always been an outcast。 You have your son to
comfort and assist you； he has nobody at all。 The advantages must
not be all one side。 You are in the same boat； and we must divide
the ballast a little more equally。’
She was about to speak； but he checked her； and went on。
‘The only way of doing this； is by making up a little purse now
and then for my friend； and that’s what I advise。 He bears you no
malice that I know of； ma’am： so little； that although you have
treated him harshly more than once； and driven him； I may say；
out of doors； he has that regard for you that I believe even if you
disappointed him now； he would consent to take charge of your
son； and to make a man of him。’
He laid a great stress on these latter words； and paused as if to
find out what effect they had produced。 She only answered by her
tears。
‘He is a likely lad；’ said the blind man； thoughtfully； ‘for many
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purposes； and not ill…disposed to try his fortune in a little change
and bustle； if I may judge from what I heard of his talk with you to…
night。—Come。 In a word； my friend has pressing necessity for
twenty pounds。 You； who can give up an annuity； can get that sum
for him。 It’s a pity you should be troubled。 You seem very
comfortable here； and it’s worth that much to remain so。 Twenty
pounds； widow； is a moderate demand。 You know where to apply
for it； a post will bring it you。—Twenty pounds！’
She was about to answer him again； but again he stopped her。
‘Don’t say anything hastily； you might be sorry for it。 Think of it
a little while。 Twenty pounds—of other people’s money—how
easy！ Turn it over in your mind。 I’m in no hurry。 Night’s coming
on； and if I don’t sleep here； I shall not go far。 Twenty pounds！
Consider of it； ma’am； for twenty minutes； give each pound a
minute； that’s a fair allowance。 I’ll enjoy the air the while； which is
very mild and pleasant in these parts。’
With these words he groped his way to the door； carrying his
chair with him。 Then seating himself； under a spreading
honeysuckle； and stretching his legs across the threshold so that
no person could pass in or out without his knowledge； he took
from his pocket a pipe； flint； steel and tinder…box； and began to
smoke。 It was a lovely evening； of that gentle kind； and at that time
of year； when the twilight is most beautiful。 Pausing now and then
to let his smoke curl slowly off； and to sniff the grateful fragrance
of the flowers； he sat there at his ease—as though the cottage were
his proper dwelling； and he had held undisputed possession of it
all his life—waiting for the widow’s answer and for Barnaby’s
return。
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Chapter 46
hen Barnaby returned with the bread； the sight of the
Wpious old pilgrim smoking his pipe and making himself
so thoroughly at home； appeared to surprise even him；
the more so； as that worthy person； instead of putting up the loaf
in his wallet as a scarce and precious article； tossed it carelessly on
the table； and producing his bottle； bade him sit down and drink。
‘For I carry some comfort； you see；’ he said。 ‘Taste that。 Is it
good？’
The water stood in Barnaby’s eyes as he coughed from the
strength of the draught； and answered in the affirmative。
‘Drink some more；’ said the blind man； ‘don’t be afraid of it。
You don’t taste anything like that； often； eh？’
‘Often！’ cried Barnaby。 ‘Never！’
‘Too poor？’ returned the blind man with a sigh。 ‘Ay。 That’s bad。
Your mother； poor soul； would be happier if she was richer；
Barnaby。’
‘Why； so I tell her—the ve