"Well, I went to the theatre last night, and sat in the pit, while Phœbe—my Phœbe, mother—and her precious set were in a private box, dressed up to the nines, with flowers and all sorts of things."
"The Lethbridges, Jeremiah?"
"Yes, the Lethbridges, and that lawyer chap."
"I told you there was danger in that quarter, Jeremiah."
"And I told you to mind your own business. Do you think this Phœbe affair is the only one I've got to look after? There are other schemes, mother, with heaps of money hanging to them, which will land me in a carriage as sure as guns. I'm going to take in the sharpers; I'm going to prove that I'm the sharpest fellow they ever had to deal with; I'll have thousands out of them! They think they know a lot, but they don't know everything. Why, with my head for figures and calculations, I ought to be as rich as the Rothschilds! I'll tell you all about it by-and-by."
"You are always keeping things from me, Jeremiah," said Mrs. Pamflett, in an injured tone. "Why not tell me now?"
"Because I don't choose. Still tongue, wise head."
"I might keep things from you, Jeremiah," said Mrs. Pamflett; and there was now a sly note in her voice which caused Jeremiah to bristle up.
"Oh, you would, would you! You've got something to tell, and you won't tell it! All right. I've done with you." He turned to go, but she seized his arm and detained him.
"No, no, Jeremiah! I've no one in the world but you. I'll tell you everything, everything!"