Mrs. Darlington understood, by the man's tone and manner, that he meant to be rude, though she did not comprehend the meaning of the question. "No, sir," she replied, with some dignity of manner. "Why do you ask?" "It struck me," he answered, "that such might be the case. But, perhaps, cook is too lazy to bring it out of the cellar. If she'll send for me to-morrow morning, I'll bring her up an extra scuttleful, as I particularly like a good cup of hot coffee." His meaning was now plain. Quick as thought, the blood rushed to the face of Mrs. Darlington. She had borne so much from this man, and felt towards him such utter disgust, that she could forbear no longer. "Mr. Scragg," said she, with marked indignation, "when a gentleman has any complaint to make, he does it as a gentleman." "Madam!" exclaimed Scragg, with a threat in his voice, while his coarse face became red with anger. "When a _gentleman_ has any complaint to make, he does it _as_ a gentleman," repeated Mrs. Darlington, with a more particular emphasis than at first. "I'd thank you to explain yourself," said Scragg, dropping his hands from the table, and elevating his person. "My words convey my meaning plainly enough. But, if you cannot understand, I will try to make them clearer. Your conduct is not that of a gentleman." Of course, Mr. Scragg asked for no further explanation. Starting from the table, he said, looking at Mrs. Scragg-- "Come!" And Mrs. Scragg arose and followed her indignant spouse. "Served him right," remarked Burton, in a low voice, bending a little towards Miriam, who sat near him. "I hope we shall now be rid of the low-bred fellow." Miriam was too much disturbed to make a reply. All at the table felt more or less uncomfortable, and soon retired. Ere dinner time, Mr. and Mrs. Scragg, with their whole brood, had left the house, thus reducing the income of Mrs. Darlington from thirty-five to twenty-three dollars a week. At dinner time, Mrs. Darlington was in bed. The reaction which followed the excitement of the morning, accompanied as it was with the conviction that, in parting with the Scraggs, insufferable as they were, she had parted with the very means of sustaining herself, completely prostrated her. During the afternoon, she was better, and was able to confer with Edith on the desperate nature of their affairs. "What are we to do?" said she to her daughter, breaking thus abruptly a silence which had continued for many minutes. "We have an income of only twenty-three dollars a week, and that will scarcely supply the table." Edith sighed, but did not answer. "Twenty-three dollars a week," repeated Mrs. Darlington. "What are we to do?" "Our rooms will not remain vacant long, I hope," said Edith. "There is little prospect of filling them that I can see," murmured Mrs. Darlington. "If all our rooms were taken, we might get along."