Had it been a question of
gaining a pound a week, as in the old days, he might have hoped
to obtain some clerkship like that at the hospital, where no
commercial experience or aptitude was demanded; but in his
present position such an income would be useless. Could he take
Amy and the child to live in a garret? On less than a hundred a
year it was scarcely possible to maintain outward decency.
Already his own clothing began to declare him poverty-stricken,
and but for gifts from her mother Amy would have reached the like
pass. They lived in dread of the pettiest casual expense, for the
day of pennilessness was again approaching.
Amy was oftener from home than had been her custom.
Occasionally she went away soon after breakfast, and spent the
whole day at her mother's house. 'It saves food,' she said with a
bitter laugh, when Reardon once expressed surprise that she
should be going again so soon.
'And gives you an opportunity of bewailing your hard fate,' he
returned coldly.
The reproach was ignoble, and he could not be surprised that Amy
left the house without another word to him.
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