You could still let me have the same money as before ?' 'Yes.' It was said absently, and did not satisfy Godwin.

In the course of the conversation it appeared that Mrs.Peak had that morning been to see the legal friend who looked after her small concerns, and though she would not admit that she had any special cause for uneasiness, her son recalled similar occasions when an interview with Mr.Dutch had been followed by several days' gloom.

The truth was that Mrs Peak could not live strictly within the income at her disposal, and on being from time to time reminded of this, she was oppressed by passing worry.

If Godwin and Oliver 'got on well,' things would come all right in the end, but in the meantime she could not face additional expenditure.

Godwin did not like to be reminded of the razor's edge on which the affairs of the household were balanced.