"
"It's worse, because nobody can see what you're doing. I know how
it was. You hadn't the pluck to hold to your own when Runciman told
you not" There was a spice of truth in this which made it all the
more bitter. "Runciman knows on which side his bread is buttered.
He can make his money out of these swearing-tearing fellows. He can
send in his bills, and get them paid too. And it's all very well
for Larry Twentyman to be hobbing and nobbing with the likes of
them Botseys. But for a father of a family like you to be put off
his business by what Mr. Runciman says is a shame."
"I shall manage my business as I think fit," said the attorney.
"And when we're all in the poor-house what'll you do then?" said
Mrs. Masters,--with her handkerchief out at the spur of the moment.
Whenever she roused her husband to a state of bellicose ire by her
taunts she could always reduce him again by her tears. Being well
aware of this he would bear the taunts as long as he could, knowing
that the tears would be still worse. He was so soft-hearted that
when she affected to be miserable, he could not maintain the
sternness of his demeanour and leave her in her misery. "When
everything has gone away from us, what are we to do? My little bit
of money has disappeared ever so long." Then she sat herself down
in her chair and had a great cry.
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