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.