The matter was now becoming serious. Here was the eldest girl, one of six daughters, putting in her claim for five hundred pounds portion. This would amount to three thousand pounds for the lot, and, as the process of marrying them went on, they would all have to be maintained as at present. What with their school expenses and their clothes, the necessary funds for the Carroll family amounted to six hundred pounds a year. That was the regular allowance, and there were others whenever Mr. Carroll wanted a pair of trousers. And Dolly's acerbation was aroused by a belief on her part that the money asked for trousers took him generally to race-courses. And now five hundred pounds was boldly demanded so as to induce a groom to make one of the girls his wife! She almost regretted that in former years she had promised to assist her father in befriending the Carroll relations. "Perhaps, Dorothea, you won't mind stepping into my bedroom with me, just for a moment." This was said by Mrs. Carroll, and Dolly most unwillingly followed her aunt up-stairs. "Of course I know all that you've got to say," began Mrs. Carroll. "Then, aunt, why bring me in here?" "Because I wish to explain things a little. Don't be ill-natured, Dorothea." "I won't if I can help it." "I know your nature, how good it is." Here Dorothy shook her head. "Only think of me and of my sufferings! I haven't come to this without suffering." Then the poor woman began to cry. "I feel for you through it all,--I do," said Dolly. "That poor man! To have to be always with him, and always doing my best to keep him out of mischief!" "A man who will do nothing else must do harm." "Of course he must. But what can he do now? And the children! I can see--of course I know that they are not all that they ought to be. But with six of them, and nobody but myself, how can I do it all? And they are his children as well as mine." Dolly's heart was filled with pity as she heard this, which she knew to be so true! "In answering you they have uppish, bad ways. They don't like to submit to one so near their own age." "Not a word that has come from the mouth of one of them addressed to myself has ever done them any harm with my father. That is what you mean?" "No,--but with yourself." "I do not take anger--against them--out of the room with me." "Now, about Mr. Juniper." "The question is one much too big for me. Am I to tell my father?" "I was thinking that--if you would do so!" "I cannot tell him that he ought to find five hundred pounds for Mr. Juniper." "Perhaps four would do." "Nor can I ask him to drive a bargain." "How much would he give her--to be married?"