Salvina cast about for what to do. Her mother's nerves were no doubt entirely disorganized by her sufferings and by the shock of Lazarus's trick. Some radical medicine must be applied. But every day Duty took Salvina to school and harassed her there and drove her to private lessons afterward, and left her neither the energy nor the brain for further innovations. And whenever she met Lazarus by accident--for she was too outraged to visit a house practically kept up by dishonourable money, apart from her objection to its perpetually festive atmosphere of solo-whist supper-parties--he would sneer at her high and mighty airs in casting out the furniture. "Oh, we're very grand now, we keep a servant; we have cut our father off with a shilling." She wished her mother would not go to see Lazarus, but she felt she had not the right to interfere with these visits, though Mrs. Brill returned from them, fretful and restive. Evidently Lazarus must be still insinuating reconciliation. "Lazarus worries you, mother, I feel sure," she ventured to say once. "Oh, no, he is a good son. He wants me to live with him." "What! On _her_ money!" "It isn't her money--your father made it on the Stock Exchange." "Who told you so?" "Didn't you hear Lazarus say so yourself?" Then a horrible suspicion came to Salvina. "He doesn't set father at you when you go there?" she cried. Mrs. Brill flushed furiously. "I'd like to see him try it on," she murmured. Salvina stooped to kiss her. "But he tells you tales of father's riches, I suppose." "Who wants his riches? If he offered me my own horse and carriage, I wouldn't be seen with him after the disgrace he's put upon me." "I wish, mother, Lazarus had inherited your sense of honour." Mrs. Brill was pleased. "There isn't a woman in the world with more pride! Your father made a mistake when he began with me!" XIII A horse and carriage did come, one flamboyant afternoon, but it was the Samuelsons', and brought the long-absent Kitty. And Kitty as usual brought a present. This time it was a bracelet, and Mrs. Brill clasped and unclasped it ecstatically, feeling that she had at least one daughter who loved her and did not domineer. Salvina was at school, and Mrs. Brill took Kitty all over the house, enjoying her approval, and accepting all the praise for the lighter and more artistic furniture. She told her of the episode of the return of the old furniture--"And didn't have the decency to put new castors on the sofa she had sprawled on!" Kitty's laughter was as loud and ringing as Salvina had anticipated; Mrs. Brill coloured under it, as though _she_ were found food for laughter. "What a ridiculous person he is!" Kitty added hastily. "Yes," said Mrs. Brill with eager pride and relief. "He thought he could coax me back like a dog with a bit of sugar." "It would be too funny to live with him again." And Kitty's eyes danced.