Diamond mines spell ruin oftener than they spell wealth," said Mr. Barrow. "When a man is in the hands of a very dear friend and is not a businessman himself, he had better steer clear of the dear friend's diamond mines, or gold mines, or any other kind of mines dear friends want his money to put into. The late Captain Crewe--"
Here Miss Minchin stopped him with a gasp.
"The Captain Crewe!" she cried out. "The You don't come to tell me that Captain Crewe is--"
"He's dead, ma'am," Mr. Barrow answered with jerky brusqueness. "Died of jungle fever and business troubles combined. The jungle fever might not have killed him if he had not been driven mad by the business troubles, and the business troubles might not have put an end to him if the jungle fever had not assisted. Captain Crewe is dead!"
Miss Minchin dropped into her chair again. The words he had spoken filled her with alarm.
"What his business troubles?" she said. "What they?"
"Diamond mines," answered Mr. Barrow, "and dear friends--and ruin.
Here Miss Minchin stopped him with a gasp.
"The Captain Crewe!" she cried out. "The You don't come to tell me that Captain Crewe is--"
"He's dead, ma'am," Mr. Barrow answered with jerky brusqueness. "Died of jungle fever and business troubles combined. The jungle fever might not have killed him if he had not been driven mad by the business troubles, and the business troubles might not have put an end to him if the jungle fever had not assisted. Captain Crewe is dead!"
Miss Minchin dropped into her chair again. The words he had spoken filled her with alarm.
"What his business troubles?" she said. "What they?"
"Diamond mines," answered Mr. Barrow, "and dear friends--and ruin.
( Frances Hodgson Burnett )
[ A Little Princess ]
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