"I could remind you of more," he rejoined, chafing at her unjust words, her resentful manner. "That for years I impoverished myself to help you to augment this income. Three parts of what I earned, before my partnership with Mr. Tamlyn, I gave to you." "Well, I needed it. Do, for goodness' sake, let the past alone, if you can: where's the use of recalling it? Would you have us starve? Would you see me taken off to prison? And that's what it will come to, unless I can get some money to pay up with. That table-drawer that you've got your elbow on, is full of bills. I've not paid one for these six months." "I cannot think what it is you do with your money!" "Do with my money! Why, it goes in a hundred ways. How very ignorant you are, Arnold. Look at what dress costs, for myself and four girls! Look at what the soirées cost! We have to give all sorts of dishes now; lobster salads and raspberry creams, and all kinds of expensive things. Madame St. Vincent introduced _that_." "You must put down the soirées and the dress--if you cannot keep them within the bounds of your income." "Thank you. Just as I had to put down the pony-carriage and James. How cruel you are, Arnold!" "I hope I am not. I do not wish to be so." "It will take two hundred pounds to set me straight; and I must have it from you, or from somebody else," avowed Mrs. Knox. "You certainly cannot have it, or any portion of it, from me. My expenses are heavy now, and I have my own children coming on." His tone was unmistakably decisive, and Mrs. Knox saw that it was so. For many years she had been in the habit of regarding Arnold as something like a bucket in a well, which brings up water every time it is let down. Just so had he brought up money for her from his pocket every time she worried for it. But that was over now: and he had to bear these reproaches periodically. "You know that you _can_ let me have it, Arnold. You can lend it me from Mina's money." His face flushed slightly, he pushed his fair hair back with a gesture of annoyance. "The last time you spoke of _that_ I begged you never to mention it again," he said in a low tone. "Why, what do you take me for, mother?" "Take you for?" "You must know that I could not touch Mina's money without becoming a false trustee. Men have been brought to the criminal bar to answer for a less crime than that would be." "If Mina married, you would have to hand over the whole of it." "Of course I should. First of all taking care that it was settled upon her." "I don't see the necessity of that. Mina could let me have what she pleased of it." "Talking of Mina," resumed Dr. Knox, passing by her remark, "I think you must look a little closely after her. She is more intimate, I fancy, with Captain Collinson than is desirable, and----" "Suppose Captain Collinson wants to marry her?" interrupted Mrs. Knox. "Has he told you that he wants to do so?"