"'What d'you mean?' asked Ernest.
"'Why, that 'ouse of hers in Pimlico. She's been wanting trusty 'elp for a long time, what with her varicose veins up and downstairs and one thing 'nother, and directly she got my letter about your poor dear father she wrote orf to me. "You need never want a 'ome," she says, "so long as I got a lodger. You and Prue are welcome," she says, "welcome 'elp, and the boy can easy find work up 'ere—much easier than 'e can in Cliffstone." All the time you was planning lodging-'ouses and things for me I was trying to tell you——
"'You mean it's settled?'
"'It's settled.'
"'And what you going to do with your bits of furniture 'ere?'
"'Sell some and take some....'
"'It's feasible,' said Ernest after reflection.
"'And so we needn't reely 'ave 'ad that—bit of a' argument?' said Ernest after a pause. 'Not me and uncle?'
"'Not on my account you needn't,' said my mother.
"'Well—we 'ad it,' said Ernest after another pause and without any visible signs of regret."