Her eyes began to gaze into a perspective of the future.

If Nikolai ever came to justify the great words and promises he was now making, she might, in case of the worst, when the time came, claim an asylum with them.
This thought, however, did not prevent her from selling every concession, with deep sighs, as dearly as possible.
She must say she had thought of something quite different for Silla.
And, however it might be, she would not hear of any gadding about or sweet-hearting until Nikolai could show as much ready money as Holman had done.
He had had a hundred dollars and his good wages, and when Nikolai could lay as much money on the table in front of her eyes, it would be time to talk about it.
A hundred dollars--that was something decided at last.

He held her in a vice with that.
That was the feeling which filled him when, a little while after, he sprang right across the snowdrift to shorten the way, and knocked at Barbara's door.

He must have some one to tell it to--that Mrs.Holman had acquiesced in Silla's having in this way promised herself to him.
It was exactly the same view of her well-considered advantage that occurred to Barbara while she lay that night collecting herself after the news.

She raised her large person up in bed under the influence of the brilliant idea: Why, then, she could live with Nikolai! This grocery business was completely eating her up--it did not enter her head that she was eating _it_ up.
She suddenly felt quite clear as to her whole position; how it would be best both for her and Nikolai that she should give up the shop in time, and how instead she could be of unspeakable use in helping the totally inexperienced Silla to manage the house, and perhaps earn a few pence at other houses.