No More Learning

You seemed to
make everything clear for a minute; but I don't practice what I preach.
You would help me. . . There are only us two in the world for all
purposes, and--and you like to have me with you? "

"Of course I do. I wonder if you can realise how utterly lonely I am! "

"Darling, I think I can. "

"Two years ago, when I first took the little house, I used to walk up
and down the back-garden trying to cry. I never can cry. Can you? "

"It's some time since I tried. What was the trouble? Overwork? "

"I don't know; but I used to dream that I had broken down, and had no
money, and was starving in London.
I thought about it all day, and it
frightened me--oh, how it frightened me! "

"I know that fear. It's the most terrible of all. It wakes me up in the
night sometimes. You oughtn't to know anything about it. "

"How do you know? "

"Never mind. Is your three hundred a year safe? "

"It's in Consols. "

"Very well. If any one comes to you and recommends a better
investment,--even if I should come to you,--don't you listen. Never
shift the money for a minute, and never lend a penny of it,--even to the
red-haired girl. "

"Don't scold me so! I'm not likely to be foolish. "

"The earth is full of men who'd sell their souls for three hundred a
year; and women come and talk, and borrow a five-pound note here and
a ten-pound note there; and a woman has no conscience in a money debt.
Stick to your money, Maisie, for there's nothing more ghastly in the
world than poverty in London.