Indeed he scarcely noticed anything or knew what he was about.

The man left; Hawkins flung himself into a chair; thought a few moments, then glanced around, looked frightened, sprang to the door---- "Too late--too late! He's gone! Fool that I am! always a fool! Thirty thousand--ass that I am! Oh, why didn't I say fifty thousand!" He plunged his hands into his hair and leaned his elbows on his knees, and fell to rocking himself back and forth in anguish.

Mrs.Hawkins sprang in, beaming: "Well, Si ?" "Oh, con-found the con-founded--con-found it, Nancy.

I've gone and done it, now!" "Done what Si for mercy's sake!" "Done everything! Ruined everything!" "Tell me, tell me, tell me! Don't keep a body in such suspense.

Didn't he buy, after all?
Didn't he make an offer ?" Offer?
He offered $10,000 for our land, and----" "Thank the good providence from the very bottom of my heart of hearts! What sort of ruin do you call that, Si!" "Nancy, do you suppose I listened to such a preposterous proposition?
No! Thank fortune I'm not a simpleton! I saw through the pretty scheme in a second.