"Now, Caudle, dear! What a man you are! I know you'll give me the money, because, after all, I think you love your children, and like to see 'em well dressed. It's only natural that a father should. Eh, Caudle, eh? Now you sha'n't go to sleep till you've told me. "HOW MUCH MONEY DO I WANT? "Why, let me see, love. There's Caroline, and Jane, and Susannah, and Mary Anne, and--What do you say? "I NEEDN'T COUNT 'EM; YOU KNOW HOW MANY THERE ARE? "Ha! that's just as you take me up. Well, how much money will it take? Let me see; and don't go to sleep. I'll tell you in a minute. You always love to see the dear things like new pins, I know that, Caudle; and though I say it--bless their little hearts!--they do credit to you, Caudle. Any nobleman of the land might be proud of 'em. Now don't swear at noblemen of the land, and ask me what they've to do with your children; you know what I meant. But you ARE so hasty, Caudle. "HOW MUCH? "Now, don't be in a hurry! Well, I think, with good pinching--and you know, Caudle, there's never a wife who can pinch closer than I can--I think, with pinching, I can do with twenty pounds. What did you say? "TWENTY FIDDLESTICKS? "What? "YOU WON'T GIVE HALF THE MONEY? "Very well, Mr. Caudle; I don't care: let the children go in rags; let them stop from church, and grow up like heathens and cannibals, and then you'll save your money, and, I suppose, be satisfied. "YOU GAVE ME TWENTY POUNDS FIVE MONTHS AGO? "What's five months ago to do with now? Besides, what I HAVE had is nothing to do with it. "What do you say? "TEN POUNDS ARE ENOUGH? "Yes, just like you men; you think things cost nothing for women; but you don't care how much you lay out upon yourselves. "THEY ONLY WANT BONNETS AND FROCKS? "How do you know what they want? HOW should a man know anything at all about it? And you won't give more than ten pounds? Very well. Then you may go shopping with it yourself, and see what YOU'LL make of it. I'll have none of your ten pounds, I can tell you. No, sir,- -no; you have no cause to say that. "I DON'T WANT TO DRESS THE CHILDREN UP LIKE COUNTESSES? "You often fling that in my teeth, you do: but you know it's false, Caudle; you know it. I only want to give 'em proper notions of themselves: and what, indeed, CAN the poor things think when they see the Briggs's, and the Browns, and the Smiths--and their fathers don't make the money you do, Caudle--when they see them as fine as tulips? Why, they must think themselves nobody; and to think yourself nobody--depend upon it, Caudle,--isn't the way to make the world think anything of you. "What do you say? "WHERE DID I PICK UP THAT? "Where do you think? I know a great deal more than you suppose--yes; though you don't give me credit for it. Husbands seldom do. However, the twenty pounds I WILL have, if I've any--or not a farthing. No, sir, no. "I DON'T WANT TO DRESS UP THE CHILDREN LIKE PEACOCKS AND PARROTS!