Since Mother Doake was now defunct, her share divided gave Douglas another fifty pounds, and he felt quite a wealthy man.  The first use he made of the monster’s money was to take his father’s watch and chain out of pawn; the next, to secure his passage in the Bibby Line to Rangoon.  Then he spent a long morning at the Stores and bought a new outfit, saddle and bridle, steamer trunks, and a steamer chair.

The purchase of the “Kang He” piece and its price were naturally not withheld from Mrs. Shafto.  She pounced upon Douglas in the hall and drove him before her into the empty dining-room.

“Well, I’ve heard all about your wonderful luck!” she began excitedly, “and how Mr. Levison has actually paid you three hundred pounds for that frightful figure.”

“Yes, so he did; it’s a true bill.”

“And now, my dear boy; you will be able to help me with my trousseau,” said this daughter of a horse-leech, “I must really get good frocks.  Mr. L. is so sharp, and notices everything, and can tell the price of a gown to a sixpence; he has wonderful taste, and is very particular.  You must let me have fifty or sixty to begin with—­it’s not much out of three hundred pounds.  What a windfall!”

“Oh, but I have already divided it with Mrs. Malone,” replied Douglas; “she insisted upon my taking half—­you see, the figure was hers.”

“Divided it with Mrs. Malone!” screamed his mother.  “What a mean, grasping, greedy old hag!  I shall speak to her about it and make her disgorge.  She has no right to your money; whilst I am your mother!”

“I do beg you won’t interfere.  Mrs. Malone is the most generous woman I know.”

“Generous!” echoed Mrs. Shafto.  “The greatest old skinflint in London—­she charges me sixpence a day for having my breakfast in bed, and——­”

“Well, you will soon be out of it,” interrupted her son impetuously, “and so shall I!  And I am glad to have an opportunity now of telling you that I have got promotion in the office and am going to Burma.”

“Oh! are you?  Burma—­Burma!  Why, that’s abroad—­some place near India—­or is it the West Indies?”

“You are thinking of Bermuda.  Burma is east of India.  I have to pay for my passage and outfit, and this unexpected windfall is a wonderful bit of luck.  If I hadn’t got it, I never could have accepted the post, or made a new start.”

“And when do you leave?"’

“In a week.”

“So soon,” she exclaimed cheerfully; “I wonder what Cossie will say?”

“It is not of the slightest consequence what Cossie says; she has nothing to do with my plans.”

“Cossie won’t think so, and when she hears you have been promoted and are off to Burma, she will stick to you like a burr.”

“But, my dear mother, what is the use of her sticking to me?” protested Douglas.  “I haven’t the faintest intention of being engaged to Cossie.  If she imagines that I am in love with her, she is making the greatest mistake in her life.”