Meanwhile the household affairs were as troublesome as they could well be.

Mrs.
Oliver developed more serious symptoms, and Dr.George asked the San Francisco physician to call to see her twice a week at least.

The San Francisco physician thought "a year at Carlsbad, and a year at Nice, would be a good thing;" but, failing these, he ordered copious quantities of expensive drugs, and the reserve fund shrank, though the precious three hundred and twelve dollars was almost intact.
Poor Mrs.Chadwick sent tearful monthly letters, accompanied by checks of fifty to sixty-five dollars.

One of the boarders had died; two had gone away; the season was poor; Ah Foy had returned to China; Mr.
Greenwood was difficult about his meals; the roof leaked; provisions were dear; Mrs.Holmes in the next street had decided to take boarders; Eastern people were grumbling at the weather, saying it was not at all as reported in the guide-books; real-estate and rents were very low; she hoped to be able to do better next month; and she was Mrs.Oliver's "affectionate Clementine Churchill Chadwick." Polly had held a consultation with the principal of her school, who had assured her that as she was so well in advance of her class, she could be promoted the next term, if she desired.

Accordingly, she left school in order to be more with her mother, and as she studied with Edgar in the evening, she really lost nothing.
Mrs.Howe remitted four dollars from the monthly rent, in consideration of Spanish lessons given to her two oldest children.