'I once thought Edgar Mandlebert had a sneaking kindness for you. But I believe it is gone off. Or else I was out.'
This was not an observation to exhilarate her spirits. She sighed: but Lionel, concluding himself the cause, begged her not to be low-spirited, but to write the letter at once.
She assured him she could never again consent to interfere in his unreasonable requests.
He was undone, then, he said; for he could not live without the money.
'Rather say, not with it,' cried she; 'for you keep nothing!'
'Nobody does, my dear; we all go on the same way now-a-days.'
'And what do you mean to be the end of it all, Lionel? How do you purpose living when all these resources are completely exhausted?'
'When I am ruined, you mean? why how do other people live when they're ruined? I can but do the same; though I have not much considered the matter.'
'Do consider it, then, dear Lionel! for all our sakes, do consider it!'
'Well,—let us see.'