"
"Yes, I know all that," said Sewell sadly. "I once thought the
greatest possible good I could do Barker, after getting him to
Boston, was to get him back to Willoughby Pastures; but if that was
ever true, the time is past. Now, it merely seems the only thing
possible. When he gets well, he will still have an invalid wife on
his hands; he must provide her a home; she could have helped him
once, and would have done so, I've no doubt; but now she must be
taken care of."
"Look here!" said Bellingham. "What's the reason these things can't
be managed as they are in the novels? In any well-regulated romance
that cough of hers would run into quick consumption and carry
Barker's fiancee off in six weeks; and then he could resume his
career of usefulness and prosperity here, don't you know. He could
marry some one else, and found that family that Corey wants."
They all laughed, Sewell ruefully.
"As it is," said Corey, "I suppose she'll go on having hemorrhages
to a good old age, and outlive him, after being a clog and burden to
him all his life. Poor devil! What in the world possesses him to
want to marry her? But I suppose the usual thing."
This gave Sewell greater discomfort than the question of Lemuel's
material future. He said listlessly, "Oh, I suppose so," but he was
far from thinking precisely that. He had seen Lemuel and the young
girl together a great deal, and a painful misgiving had grown up in
his mind.
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