Netta's face brightened a little.
'Why don't you tell me what you have on your mind, instead of bullying me from morning to night?'
'Because a woman cannot understand such matters. But if I do not get some money this month we shall be ruined. I have asked my mother up to see whether she will advance it, and that will depend on our treatment of her. Will you be kind to her?'
'I suppose you will give me some of the money, if you get it, to pay servants' wages, and other bills? I am dunned for money from morning to night, and never have a farthing to pay.'
'I shall be able to pay everything next month. I am sure of plenty of money.'
'And I suppose you want to get money from your mother to pay bets, or something of the sort? Why won't you tell me?'
'Yes; I owe it to your friend Dancy. Perhaps you will help me to pay him.'
'He is no friend of mine. I don't like him; but he would do more for me than you would, and is kinder too. But I don't want to be under any obligation to him.'
'If you wish to keep a house over your head, or me out of a prison, you must either ask him, as a personal favour, to let me off the debt, or you must help me to get the money out of my mother.'
'Howel, I don't like underhand ways. I don't mind trying to be civil to Aunt 'Lizbeth, provided you tell her exactly how you are situated, and promise me never to bet with Captain Dancy, or borrow money of him again.'