“I have never seen any money in the house,” said Mrs. Lammle to the skeleton, “except my own annuity. That I swear.”

“You needn’t take the trouble of swearing,” said Mr. Lammle to the skeleton; “once more, it doesn’t matter. You never turned your annuity to so good an account.”

“Good an account! In what way?” asked Mrs. Lammle.

“In the way of getting credit, and living well,” said Mr. Lammle. Perhaps the skeleton laughed scornfully on being entrusted with this question and this answer; certainly Mrs. Lammle did, and Mr. Lammle did.