"Of course not. Not a penny, though I do need it so badly."
"What was he talking about?"
"He wanted to light his cigar, as he so often does when he goes down this way. Surely that can't do you any harm! And it wouldn't be much good forbidding him to do it either, I should think—either for me or for you!" She added the last words red with anger.
"No, I certainly can't forbid him, mother. But remember, if you borrow of him, everything is at an end between us!"
"Oh, Nikolai, you are so quick-tempered. No, of course not; I shouldn't think of borrowing!" As she spoke she turned round and pushed something she had in her hand into her bosom. "No, of course not!"
"I could hear he had been talking about me."
"No, indeed, how could you think so?"
"Yes he was, mother," he persisted, gloomily.
"About you? Oh, well, I was telling him a little about how hard you were working now to get together those few shillings for Mrs. Holman." Barbara talked rather confusedly.
"And perhaps about Silla, too?" he asked searchingly.