He cannot
skin a flint, can he?"
"That's an ugly comparison," she replied, "and I can't conceive why
you make it to me. I am afraid, Harry, you have suffered yourself to be
prejudiced against the only friend--the only true friend, you have in
the house. I can tell you, that although they keep fair faces to you,
you are not liked here."
"Very well; if I find that to be true, they will lose more than they'll
gain by it."
"They have been striving to secure your influence against me. I know it
by your language."
"In the devil's name, how can you know it by my language, mother?"
"You talked about skinning a flint; now, you had that from them
with reference to me. It was only the other day that an ill-tongued
house-maid of mine, after I had paid her her wages, and 'stopped' for
the articles she injured on me, turned round, and called me a skinflint;
they have made it a common nickname on me. I'd have torn her eyes out
only for Lindsay, who had the assurance to tell me that if he had not
interfered I'd have had the worst of it--that I'd come off second best,
and such slang; yes, and then added afterwards, that he was sorry he
interfered.
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