Mrs. Cragg tossed her head. "I shall pay it in time—of course." "There is no 'of course' in the matter. The money that I allow you is never enough for immediate wants." "Then you'd better allow me more." "I cannot afford it. I am on the high-road to beggary." "You're uncommon fond of talking nonsense, Mr. Cragg." "I am speaking sober truth. At this rate I shall soon be bankrupt." Mrs. Cragg declined to believe what he said. She took up the bill and glanced it through. "Those people are cheats. I don't believe it ought to be a quarter as much." "You mean that you have not had the things?" "I had some, of course. Not all that list." "Find something in the bill that you have not had, and I will make complaint." "Really, Mr. Cragg, I didn't marry you to be kept in as close as this, and lectured as if I was a school-girl. And I don't mean to bear it. You've been worse than ever since Pattie came—and that's the truth." "I shall have to be worse," Cragg answered coldly. "I cannot afford this sort of thing, and that's the long and short of the matter. If you run into debt, you must manage for yourself. But it's no use speaking to you. You don't choose to understand." And he left the room as Pattie came in. "Has anything happened?" she asked. "Mr. Cragg looks—" "He's in a temper," said Mrs. Cragg. Pattie's lips formed a mute protest. If Mrs. Cragg had said, "I am in a temper," nobody would have questioned it. "I came to find Dot," remarked Pattie, knowing it was useless to carry on any discussion with Mrs. Cragg. "Do you know where she is?" "How should I know? Mr. Cragg sent her away." A shrill cry was followed by a dull thud; and then scream after scream filled the air. CHAPTER XV A Heavy Fall PATTIE knew in an instant that it was Dot—her pet and companion, and the being in the world whom she most dearly loved. Before Mrs. Cragg had got beyond a bewildered "What's that?" Pattie had flown out into the passage, and had dropped on the ground beside a little heap at the foot of the stairs. The nursery girl stood on the landing above, uttering frightened shrieks. "It isn't Dot! It can't be Dot!" cried Mrs. Cragg, horrified, coming after Pattie. And though she could not be described as an especially affectionate mother, her flushed face lost its high colour, and she had a strange feeling at her heart, as if the whole world were at a standstill. This silent huddled form her little Dot—her bonny merry child! "Don't move her! Don't lift her yet!" entreated Pattie, as Mrs. Cragg was going to seize Dot's arm. "Oh, don't!" she implored; and she had herself to grasp Mrs. Cragg's hand. "Wait, please! It might do harm. We don't know yet where she is hurt—or if any bones are broken."