Everything is sunk in this Winhalla Railway
scheme, up to the last penny. It seemed a gorgeous chance at the time.
It ought to have brought in thousands. It would have done, too, if it
had been properly supported. But it's no good talking about that. It's
just a gigantic failure, or, if it ever does succeed, it will come too
late to help us. Just our infernal luck! And now the question is, what
is going to be done? You'll have to marry that fellow, Violet. It's
absolutely the only thing for you to do. And I--I suppose I must
emigrate."
The girl did not turn her head. There was something tense about her
attitude.
"I could emigrate too, Jerry," she said, in a low voice.
"You!" Her brother turned more fully round. "You!" he said again. "Are
you mad, I wonder?"
She made a slight gesture of protest.
"Why shouldn't I?" she said. "At least, we should be together."
He uttered a grim laugh, and rose.
"Look here, Violet," he said, and took her lightly by the shoulders.
"Don't be a little fool! You know as well as I do that you weren't made
to rough it. The suggestion is so absurd that it isn't worth discussion.
You'll have to marry Kenyon. It's as plain as daylight; and I only wish
my perplexities were as easily solved. Come! He isn't such a bad sort;
and, anyhow, he's better than starvation."
The girl stood up slowly and faced him. Her eyes were wild, like the
eyes of a hunted creature.
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