His own letter had appeared that morning.
Ashe was proud of it. He made bold to think that it exposed Cliffe's
exaggerations and insincerities neatly, and perhaps decisively. At any
rate, he hummed a cheerful tune as he thought of it.
Then suddenly and incongruously a recollection occurred to him.
"Kitty, do you know that I had a letter from your mother, this morning?"
"Had you?" said Kitty, turning to him with reluctance. "I suppose she
wanted some money."
"She did. She says she is very hard up. If I cared to use it, I have an
easy reply."
"What do you mean?"
"I might say,' D---n it, we are, too!'"
Kitty laughed uneasily.
"Don't begin to talk money matters now, William,
please."
"No, dear, I won't. But we shall really have to draw in."
"You
will pay so many debts!" said Kitty, frowning.
Ashe went into a fit of laughter.
"That's my extravagance, isn't it? I assure you I go on the most
approved principles. I divide our available money among the greatest
number of hungry claimants it will stretch to. But, after all, it goes a
beggarly short way."
"I know mother will think my diamond crescent a horrible extravagance,"
said Kitty, pouting.
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