"A pound a week," he thought, "for Ellen, and the rest for myself."
"No," said I, "we will charge Ellen's pound a week to the estate
also. You must have a clear L300 for yourself."
"I fixed upon this sum, because it was the one which Mr. Disraeli
gave Coningsby when Coningsby was at the lowest ebb of his fortunes.
Mr. Disraeli evidently thought L300 a year the smallest sum on which
Coningsby could be expected to live, and make the two ends meet;
with this, however, he thought his hero could manage to get along
for a year or two. In 1862, of which I am now writing, prices had
risen, though not so much as they have since done; on the other hand
Ernest had had less expensive antecedents than Coningsby, so on the
whole I thought L300 a year would be about the right thing for him.
CHAPTER LXXIX
THE question now arose what was to be done with the children. I
explained to Ernest that their expenses must be charged to the estate,
and showed him how small a hole all the various items I proposed to
charge would make in the income at my disposal. He was beginning to
make difficulties, when I quieted him by pointing out that the money
had all come to me from his aunt over his own head, and reminded him
there had been an understanding between her and me that I should do
much as I was doing, if occasion should arise.
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