I had always thought that some accident might happen which would throw me suddenly, without any relation or any property, on the world and had always tried to keep some little money by me that I might not be quite penniless.

I told Richard of my having this little store and having no present need of it, and I asked him delicately to inform Mr.Skimpole, while I should be gone to fetch it, that we would have the pleasure of paying his debt.
When I came back, Mr.Skimpole kissed my hand and seemed quite touched.

Not on his own account (I was again aware of that perplexing and extraordinary contradiction), but on ours, as if personal considerations were impossible with him and the contemplation of our happiness alone affected him.

Richard, begging me, for the greater grace of the transaction, as he said, to settle with Coavinses (as Mr.Skimpole now jocularly called him), I counted out the money and received the necessary acknowledgment.

This, too, delighted Mr.
Skimpole.
His compliments were so delicately administered that I blushed less than I might have done and settled with the stranger in the white coat without making any mistakes.