“Come, come!” said the person of the house, tapping the table near her in a businesslike manner, and shaking her head and her chin; “you know what you’ve got to do. Put down your money this instant.”

The obedient figure began to rummage in its pockets.

“Spent a fortune out of your wages, I’ll be bound!” said the person of the house. “Put it here! All you’ve got left! Every farthing!”

Such a business as he made of collecting it from his dogs’-eared pockets; of expecting it in this pocket, and not finding it; of not expecting it in that pocket, and passing it over; of finding no pocket where that other pocket ought to be!

“Is this all?” demanded the person of the house, when a confused heap of pence and shillings lay on the table.

“Got no more,” was the rueful answer, with an accordant shake of the head.