He had made a half bargain about a room with a kitchen at a fair price per month, and what he wanted for the house, too.

The last time he had lent his mother money, she had said that he need not be afraid, she was selling the goods and sweeping in the profits.
Everything was in order, so the battle with Mrs.Holman had better be fought at once.

And when he laid before her his journeyman's credentials, his seventy-five dollars, and his regular earnings, with the advance he was to have from the New Year at Haegberg's, she would have to be so kind as to give in.
It was on one of the days between Christmas and the New Year that he went up to his mother to let her know that he must have his money out in February.

Then he would go to Mrs.Holman.
It struck him that his mother was rather confused and forgetful while she made the coffee.
She thought she was half crazy to-day, she said; but he should have his coffee, and Christmas should not pass without his having something good; it had not been the custom where she was brought up.
Oh, dear! So Nikolai wanted his money back already.

She had grown so forgetful, that she had not remembered that it was so soon.