They were ruined,--but they accepted their common fate with a certain Indian stoicism and Western sense of humor that for the time lifted them above the vulgar complacency of their former fortunes.There was a deep-seated,if coarse and irreverent resignation in their philosophy.At the beginning of the calamity it had been roughly formulated by Billings in the statement that "it wasn't anybody's fault;there was nobody to kill,and what couldn't be reached by a Vigilance Committee there was no use resolootin'over."When the Reverend Doctor Pilsbury had suggested an appeal to a Higher Power,Peters had replied,good humoredly,that "a Creator who could fool around with them in that style was above being interfered with by prayer."At first the calamity had been a thing to fight against;then it became a practical joke,the sting of which was lost in the victims'power of endurance and assumed ignorance of its purport.There was something almost pathetic in their attempts to understand its peculiar humor.
"How about that Europ-e-an trip o'yours,Peters?"said Billings,meditatively,from the depths of his chair."Looks as if those Crowned Heads over there would have to wait till the water goes down considerable afore you kin trot out your wife and darters before 'em!""Yes,"said Peters,"it rather pints that way;and ez far ez I kin see,Mame Billings ain't goin'to no Saratoga,neither,this year.""Reckon the boys won't hang about old Harcourt's Free Library to see the girls home from lectures and singing-class much this year,"said Wingate."Wonder if Harcourt ever thought o'this the day he opened it,and made that rattlin'speech o'his about the new property?Clark says everything built on that made ground has got to go after the water falls.Rough on Harcourt after all his other losses,eh?He oughter have closed up with that scientific chap,Grant,and married him to Clementina while the big boom was on"--"Hush!"said Peters,indicating Grant,who had just entered quietly.
"Don't mind me,gentlemen,"said Grant,stepping towards the group with a grave but perfectly collected face;"on the contrary,I am very anxious to hear all the news of Harcourt's family.I left for New York before the rainy season,and have only just got back."His speech and manner appeared to be so much in keeping with the prevailing grim philosophy that Billings,after a glance at the others,went on."Ef you left afore the first rains,"said he,"you must have left only the steamer ahead of Fletcher,when he run off with Clementina Harcourt,and you might have come across them on their wedding trip in New York."Not a muscle of Grant's face changed under their eager and cruel scrutiny."No,I didn't,"he returned quietly."But why did she run away?Did the father object to Fletcher?If I remember rightly he was rich and a good match.""Yes,but I reckon the old man hadn't quite got over the 'Clarion'abuse,for all its eating humble-pie and taking back its yarns of him.And may be he might have thought the engagement rather sudden.They say that she'd only met Fletcher the day afore the engagement.""That be d----d,"said Peters,knocking the ashes out of his pipe,and startling the lazy resignation of his neighbors by taking his feet from the stove and sitting upright."I tell ye,gentlemen,I'm sick o'this sort o'hog-wash that's been ladled round to us.