Take notice of my words, sir. If ever the defaulting
part of this here country pays its debts--along of finding that not
paying 'em won't do in a commercial point of view, you see, and is
inconvenient in its consequences--they'll take such a shine out of it,
and make such bragging speeches, that a man might suppose no borrowed
money had ever been paid afore, since the world was first begun. That's
the way they gammon each other, sir. Bless you, I know 'em. Take notice
of my words, now!'
'You seem to be growing profoundly sagacious!' cried Martin, laughing.
'Whether that is,' thought Mark, 'because I'm a day's journey nearer
Eden, and am brightening up afore I die, I can't say. P'rhaps by the
time I get there I shall have growed into a prophet.'
He gave no utterance to these sentiments; but the excessive joviality
they inspired within him, and the merriment they brought upon his
shining face, were quite enough for Martin. Although he might sometimes
profess to make light of his partner's inexhaustible cheerfulness,
and might sometimes, as in the case of Zephaniah Scadder, find him
too jocose a commentator, he was always sensible of the effect of his
example in rousing him to hopefulness and courage.
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