Her lips trembled, but with an effort she commanded herself. They looked at one another steadily, it seemed for a very long time; in his eyes was the look of a hunted beast.... At last she turned away without saying anything more, and left him. In the next room the three were anxiously waiting. She contemplated them a moment, and then, sitting down, asked about the affairs. They explained how things were. 'I talked to my husband about it,' she said; 'he's proposed to make you an allowance so that you can retire from business.' 'Oh, that's Sir Herbert all over,' said Mrs Griffith, greasily--she knew nothing about him but his name! 'How much do you think you could live on?' asked Daisy. Mrs Griffith looked at George and then at Edith. What should they ask? Edith and George exchanged a glance; they were in agonies lest Mrs Griffith should demand too little. 'Well,' said that lady, at last, with a little cough of uncertainty, 'in our best years we used to make four pounds a week out of the business--didn't we, George?' 'Quite that!' answered he and his wife, in a breath. 'Then, shall I tell my husband that if he allows you five pounds a week you will be able to live comfortably?' 'Oh, that's very handsome!' said Mrs Griffith. 'Very well,' said Daisy, getting up. 'You're not going?' cried her mother. 'Yes.' 'Well, that is hard. After not seeing you all these years. But you know best, of course!' 'There's no train up to London for two hours yet,' said George. 'No; I want to take a walk through Blackstable.' 'Oh, you'd better drive, in your position.' 'I prefer to walk.' 'Shall George come with you?' 'I prefer to walk alone.' Then Mrs Griffith again enveloped her daughter in her arms, and told her she had always loved her and that she was her only daughter; after which, Daisy allowed herself to be embraced by her brother and his wife. Finally they shut the door on her and watched her from the window walk slowly down the High Street. 'If you'd asked it, I believe she'd have gone up to six quid a week,' said George. XV