He unlocked the door， went downstairs， sent the housemaid out to fetch a hansom （everyone had lots of servants in those days） and looked into the drawing.room. There， as he expected， he found Aunt Letty. She was busily mending a mattress. It lay on the floor near the window and she was kneeling on it.
“Ah， Letitia my dear，” said Uncle Andrew， “I.ah.have to go out. Just lend me five pounds or so， there’s a good gel.” （“Gel” was the way he pronounced girl.）“No， Andrew dear，” said Aunty Letty in her firm， quiet voice， without looking up from her work. “I‘ve told you times without number that I will not lend you money.”
“Now pray don’t be troublesome， my dear gel，” said Uncle Andrew. “It‘s most important. You will put me in a deucedly awkward position if you don’t.”
“Andrew，” said Aunt Letty， looking him straight in the face， “I wonder you are not ashamed to ask me for money.”
