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'
Go abroad?' repeated John eagerly. 'Why shouldn't I go at once? Tell
em that Joseph and I are seeing life in Paris.'
'
'Nonsense,' said Morris.
'Well, but look here,' said John; 'it's this house, it's such a pig-sty,
it's so dreary and damp. You said yourself that it was damp.'
'Only to the carpenter,' Morris distinguished, 'and that was to reduce
the rent. But really, you know, now we're in it, I've seen worse.'
'
And what am I to do?' complained the victim. 'How can I entertain a
friend?'
'My dear Johnny, if you don't think the tontine worth a little trouble,
say so, and I'll give the business up.'
'You're dead certain of the figures, I suppose?' asked John.
'Well'--with a deep sigh--'send me the Pink Un and all the comic papers
regularly. I'll face the music.'
As afternoon drew on, the cottage breathed more thrillingly of its
native marsh; a creeping chill inhabited its chambers; the fire smoked,
and a shower of rain, coming up from the channel on a slant of wind,
tingled on the window-panes. At intervals, when the gloom deepened
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