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I’m in that little room on the top floor, sir. Didn’t you know that?
    Did she smile as she said that little room as if I should know it. Is she aware that I crept up there and saw it last night? I rather think she is. The saucy little monkey.
    Mother told Effie that I had some grave news and so I had to tell her about Cambridge.
    Do you mean that you have been back here for two whole days without having found the courage to confess to us? Effie expostulated.
    I said nothing and she went on: Uncle Thomas won’t go on paying now so you won’t be going back to Cambridge at the start of term, will you? You’ve been rusticated .
    Mother jumped at the word and stared at me in alarm.
    It just means that the College won’t let me go back for a while , I said. I told you that, Mother .
    I suppose you’ve got debts? Euphemia said.
    I didn’t answer.
    How much do you owe, Richard? Mother asked.
    Not more than twenty pounds .
    “ Not more than twenty pounds,” Euphemia repeated. You might as well have said “not more than twenty thousand pounds”. You can’t stay here. We can’t afford to feed you .
    Dear child , Mother protested.
    Well, it’s true, Mother. You and I have been scrimping and saving and counting every penny .
    And hiring a cook! I just said: Mother is paying for your keep just as much as mine .
    She glared at me and said: I pay my own way. It’s time you started to. So what are you going to do? Anything like the law or medicine is out of the question. You’ll have to find work as a private tutor or in a school .
    Those don’t offer decent prospects , I pointed out.
    And what do you think my prospects are? she demanded. A governess! Can you imagine the humiliations I’ll have to endure?
    Children, children , Mother said. This is getting us nowhere .
    You know what Richard’s like, Mother. Unless we prod him, he’ll simply sit around doing nothing. He should be looking for a way to earn a living .
    I’ll get my degree first, if that’s all right with you .
    Oh will you? Do you imagine Uncle Thomas will go on paying for you after this?
    I can’t bear this , Mother wailed. You’re squabbling like Irish tinkers in a garret .
    Betsy came in at that moment and Mother snapped: Go back to the kitchen and wait there until you’re wanted .
    The girl scurried away and Mother went on: I’ve struggled to preserve the decencies of civilised life. I’ve made sure we sit down to eat proper meals properly served wearing proper dress. And now you’re undermining all of that by shouting and abusing each other .
    She started weeping.
    This is your doing , Euphemia said to me. You’ve shown nothing but your usual selfishness since you came back .
    Don’t speak to your brother like that , Mother said through her tears. You’ve been as bad as he has. Worse, in fact, as you very well know .
    Euphemia swung round and fixed Mother with a look of fury and contempt. She seemed about to speak.
    I won’t discuss it any further , Mother said and almost ran from the room.
    Euphemia and I had stood up at the same moment and now stared at each other over the remains of the meal.
    You see what you’ve done , she said. If you had any self-respect you’d leave immediately .
    I’ve never seen Mother behave like that. She has always been able to deal with domestic crises.
    Euphemia left the room. I suddenly remembered poor Betsy who must be cowering in the kitchen. I went out to the back of the house and found her in the scullery cleaning a pan.
    So, Betsy , I said. Are you cosy in that little room?
    She made no response. I suddenly had a vision of her alone up there hour after hour.
    Betsy , I said. I want a bath tonight .
    I’ll take the tin up now, sir, and then come up with the hot water later .
    Come as late as you can , I said.
    At that moment Euphemia came in. She told me to go back into the parlour with her and once we were there she shut the door and said: You can fool Mama but you can’t fool me. What did you