“What a beast I am!” he exclaimed. “Oh, mother, do forgive me! I really didn’t think what I was saying.”
“No, dear Reggie, I know you didn’t,” said Mrs Cruden, recovering herself with a desperate effort. “You mustn’t mind me, I—I scarcely—know—I—”
It was no use trying. The poor mother broke down completely, and on that evening it was impossible to talk more about the future.
Next morning, however, all three were in a calmer mood, and Horace said at breakfast, “We can’t do any good here, mother. Hadn’t we better go to London?”
“I think so; and Parker here knows of a small furnished lodging in Dull Street, which she says is cheap. We might try there to begin with. Eh, Reg?”
Reginald winced, and then replied, “Oh, certainly; the sooner we get down to our right level the better.”
That evening the three Crudens arrived in London.