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The child in the cradle … who had been twisting and turning restlessly all this time … now began to cry loudly。 The mother took it from the cradle and began to hush and soothe it； walking about the room and rocking it in her arms。 The child； however； continued to scream； so she sat down to nurse it： for a little while the infant refused to drink； struggling and kicking in its mother's arms； then for a few minutes it was quite； taking the milk in a half…hearted； fretful way。 Then it began to scream and twist and struggle。
They both looked at it in a helpless manner。 Whatever could be the matter with it？ It must be those teeth。
Then suddenly as they were soothing and patting him； the child vomited all over its own and its mother's clothing a mass of undigested food。 Mingled with the curdled milk were fragments of egg； little bits of bacon； bread and particles of potato。
Having rid his stomach of this unnatural burden； the unfortunate baby began to cry afresh； his face very pale； his lips colourless； and his eyes red…rimmed and running with water。
Easton walked about with him while Ruth cleaned up the mess and got ready some fresh clothing。 They both agreed that it was the coming teeth that had upset the poor child's digestion。 It would be a good job when they were through。
This work finished； Easton； who was still convinced in his own mind that with the aid of a little common sense and judicious management their affairs might be arranged more satisfactorily； said：
‘We may as well make a list of all the things we must pay and buy tomorrow。 The great thing is to think out exactly what you are going to do before you spend anything； that saves you from getting things you don't really need and prevents you forgetting the things you MUST have。 Now； first of all； the rent； two weeks； twelve shillings。'
He took a fresh piece of paper and wrote this item down。
‘What else is there that we must pay or buy tomorrow？'
‘Well； you know I promised the baker and the grocer that I would begin to pay them directly you got a job； and if I don't keep my word they won't let us have anything another time； so you'd better put down two shillings each for them。
‘I've got that；' said Easton。
‘Two and seven for the butcher。 We must pay that。 I'm ashamed to pass the shop； because when I got the meat I promised to pay him the next week； and it's nearly three weeks ago now。'
‘I've put that down。 What else？'
‘A hundred of coal： one and six。'
‘Next？'
‘The instalment for the furniture and floor…cloth； twelve shillings。'
‘Next？'
‘We owe the milkman four weeks； we'd better pay one week on account； that's one and two。'
‘Next？'
‘The greengrocer； one shilling on account。'
‘Anything else？'
‘We shall want a piece of meat of some kind； we've had none for nearly three weeks。 You'd better say one and six for that。'
‘That's down。'
‘One and nine for bread； that's one loaf a day。'
‘But I've got two shillings down for bread already；' said Easton。
‘Yes； I know； dear； but that's to go towards paying off what we owe； and what you have down for the grocer and milkman's the same。'
‘Well； go on； for Christ's sake； and let's get it down；' said Easton； irritably。
‘We can't say less than three shillings for groceries。'
Easton looked carefully at his list。 This time he felt sure that the item was already down； but finding he was mistaken he said nothing and added the amount。
‘Well； I've got that。 What else？'
‘Milk； one and two。'
‘Next？'
‘Vegetables； eightpence。'
‘Yes。'
‘Paraffin oil and firewood； sixpence。'
Again the financier scrutinized the list。 He was positive that it was down already。 However； he could not find it； so the sixpence was added to the column of figures。
‘Then there's your boots； you can't go about with them old things in this weather much longer； and they won't stand mending again。 You remember the old man said they were not worth it when you had that patch put on a few weeks ago。'
‘Yes。 I was thinking of buying a new pair tomorrow。 My socks was wet through tonight。 If it's raining some morning when I'm going out and I have to work all day with wet feet I shall be laid up。'
‘At that second…hand shop down in High Street I saw when I was out this afternoon a very good pair just your size； for two shillings。'
Easton did not reply at once。 He did not much fancy wearing the cast…off boots of some stranger； who for all he knew might have suffered from some disease； but then remembering that his old ones were literally falling off his feet he realized that he had practically no choice。
‘If you're quite sure they'll fit you'd better get them。 It's better to do that than for me to catch cold and be laid up for God knows how long。'
So the two shillings were added to the list。
‘Is there anything else？'
‘How much does it all come to now？' asked Ruth。
Easton added it all up。 When he had finished he remained staring at the figures in consternation for a long time without speaking。
‘Jesus Christ！' he ejaculated at last。
‘What's it come to？' asked Ruth。
‘Forty…four and tenpence。'
‘I knew we wouldn't have enough；' said Ruth； wearily。 ‘Now if you think I manage so badly； p'raps you can tell me which of these things we ought to leave out。'
‘We'd be all right if it wasn't for the debts；' said Easton； doggedly。
‘When you're not working； we must either get into debt or starve。'
Easton made no answer。
‘What'll we do about the rates？' asked Ruth。
‘I'm sure I don't know： there's nothing left to pawn except my black coat and vest。 You might get something on that。'
‘It'll have to be paid somehow；' said Ruth； ‘or you'll be taken off to jail for a month； the same as Mrs Newman's husband was last winter。'
‘Well； you'd better take the coat and vest and see what you can get on 'em tomorrow。'
‘Yes；' said Ruth； ‘and there's that brown silk dress of mine … you know； the one I wore when we was married … I might get something on that； because we won't get enough on the coat and vest。 I don't like parting with the dress； although I never wear it； but we'll be sure to be able to get it out again； won't we？'
‘Of course；' said Easton。
They remained silent for some time； Easton staring at the list of debts and the letters。 She was wondering if he still thought she managed badly； and what he would do about it。 She knew she had always done her best。 At last she said； wistfully； trying to speak plainly for there seemed to be a lump in her throat： ‘And what about tomorrow？ Would you like to spend the money yourself； or shall I manage as I've done before； or will you tell me what to do？'
‘I don't know； dear；' said Easton； sheepishly。 ‘I think you'd better do as you think best。'
‘Oh； I'll manage all right； dear； you'll see；' replied Ruth； who seemed to think it a sort of honour to be allowed to starve herself and wear shabby clothes。
The baby； who had been for some time quietly sitting upon his mother's lap； looking wonderingly at the fire … his teeth appeared to trouble him less since he got rid of the eggs and bacon and potatoes … now began to nod and doze； which Easton perceiving； suggested that the infan