, true or false, of this unpleasant old
woman, Mr. Dempster asked to be shown to bed, as he was tired; and he
found his room, though small, was as clean and comfortable as Mrs.
Frankland had been used to give to him in her more prosperous days.

Mrs. Peck's first attempt had failed, though it had appeared very
promising. She thought she would next try Frankland, who, though he was
poor, might be victimized to the extent of ten pounds. She did not
think she could affect him by dwelling much on the desire she felt to
see her dying daughter, though for the sake of consistency it was
mentioned as her motive to get to Melbourne just at this time; but she
had several sums of money due to her in Melbourne, and she was afraid,
from the letter she had just received, that she would lose them if she
kept out of the way; there was nothing like being on the spot--nothing
like prompt measures when one wants to get in money. Mr. Talbot's
letter was sufficient warrant for her to raise money on Mr. Phillips's
annuity, but not for the purpose of going to Melbourne, which she had
unluckily betrayed. It was also rather disagreeable in its tone, and
not likely to inspire confidence in any one who read it. So she had
only her own representations to trust to, and she certainly gave a very
minute, and at the same time glowing account of her debtors and her
expectations from them; but what with one thing and another she had
really never been so hard up in her life. Peck had not got all his
wages for harvesting, and she had been so foolish as to lend a little
money in Adelaide, which she feared she could not get back. Indeed,
they had a score at the inn that had lain too long; but if she could
only get her own she could pay all and be quite easy. She spoke of a
rate of interest for a trifling advance that rather dazzled Frankland,
and he was wondering if he could not manage to raise it, when his wife
came into the room, and stopped their talk by saying it was bed-time.
When she was told of Mrs. Peck's wishes and her offers, Mrs. Frankland
peremptorily refused to listen to them, saying they had no money to
advance to any one. Frankland had brought them down low enough in the
world by being so free in lending and in spending. If she had not taken
care of the business, and worked early and late, and looked after the
money so far as she had it in her power, they would not have had a roof
over their heads by this time. What with the licence that had j