"What money do you mean? Some for housekeeping. I can let you have that."
"No, no: for myself. I want--I want--two hundred pounds," she said, jerking it out. She did not dare to say three; her courage failed her.
He put down the pen and turned towards her in displeasure. "Selina, I told you before we came to town that I could not have these calls made upon me, as I had last year. You know how very small our income is, and you know that your extravagance has already crippled it. The allowance I make you is greater than I can afford. I cannot give you more."
"Oh, Oscar, I must have it," she exclaimed in excitement, terrified at the aspect her situation presented to her, for her mind was apt to be imaginative. "Indeed, I must--even at an inconvenience. Only two hundred pounds!"
"No. If it were only to squander away, I might do without it; and I cannot do without this."
Mr. Dalrymple looked keenly at her, and she turned from his gaze. "Let me know what you want it for, that I may judge of the necessity you speak of. If it is not convenient to you to tell me, Selina, you must be satisfied with my refusal."
"Well, then," she said, seeing no help for the avowal, "I owe it."
So utter was his astonishment, so blank his dismay, that Selina's heart failed her. If her owing two hundred pounds thus impressed him, what would become of her when he learnt the whole truth!
"And I am pressed for it," she faintly added. "_Please_ let me have it, Oscar."
"Various things," she answered, not caring to avow particulars. But he looked steadfastly at her, waiting for the truth. "Dress."
"The compact between us was that you should not run into debt," he said, in severe tones; "you promised to make your allowance do. You have behaved ill to me, Selina."
She bent her head, feeling that she had. Oh, feeling it terribly just then.
"Y--es." But the falsehood, as falsehoods ought to, left a tremor on her lips.
Without speaking another word, he unsealed a paper in which were enclosed some bank-notes, and handed several to her, to the amount of two hundred pounds. "Understand me well, Selina, this must never occur again," he said, in an impressive tone. "These notes had a different and an urgent destination."