Cragg was silent. He knew it would be useless to reply, that, when no idea of a possible mine is entertained, people do not go about asking after one.
"And now you'll be for ever croaking about expenses, I suppose; saying you can't afford this, and don't mean to afford that."
The opportunity was not allowed to slip.
"I think it will be needful to draw in a little, there's no doubt," her husband said mildly.
"You can draw in as much as you like. Nobody minds if you do."
"It will be needful for us both, my dear; not for one only. I can't go on at this rate."
Mrs. Cragg wanted to know what rate he meant. Mr. Cragg, being a kindly and placid man, found it difficult to state point-blank that his wife's bills were too heavy. He knew it must come to that, but for the moment he temporised.
"The present rate," he explained. "Business hasn't been good lately, and we are spending too much—a lot too much—all round."
"I s'pose you mean to say I'm spending too much, Mr. Cragg?"
Cragg did mean it, and he was silent. Mrs. Cragg held her head high, but curling-pins are not dignified. She also grew very red, and Dot, gazing with curious eyes, remarked,—"Ma-ma angly."