"You have spoken temperately," said Mr. Manners, with cold malice in his tones. "What is the amount you require?"
"Ten pounds, sir," replied Mr. Loveday, animated by a sudden and unexpected hope.
Mr. Manners touched a bell on his table. A servant appeared.
"Show this person to the door," he said.
"Is that your answer, sir?" asked Mr. Loveday, sadly.
"Show this person to the door," repeated Mr. Manners to the servant.
"I implore you," said Mr. Loveday, strongly agitated. "When I tell you that you have a grandchild but a few weeks old; that the poor lady, your son's wife, is in a delicate state of health--"
"Did you hear what I ordered?" said Mr. Manners to the servant, and repeated again: "Show this person to the door."
[CHAPTER XXIV.]
From that day commenced for Nansie and her uncle the hard and bitter battle of life. All that had gone before was light in comparison. Without money, without friends in a position to give them practical assistance, they had to depend upon themselves for the barest necessities. Confident and hopeful as he was, Mr. Loveday found it impossible to raise a new business out of the ashes of the fire which had ruined him.