"
"Ourselves!" said Armine, bitterly. "And how about this wretched
place that we have neglected shamefully all these years!"
"Armine!" cried Jock, indignantly. "Why, you are talking of mother!"
"Mother says so herself."
"You went on raging about it; and, just like her, she did not defend
herself. I am sure she has given away loads of money."
"But see what is wanting! The curate, and the school chapel, and the
cottages; and if the school is not enlarged, they will have a school
board. And what am I to say to Miss Parsons? I promised to bring
mother's answer about the curate this afternoon at latest."
"If she has the sense of a wren, she must know that a cataclysm like
Janet's may account for a few trifling omissions."
"That's true," said Babie! "She can't expect it. Do you know, I am
rather sorry we are not poorer? I hoped we should have to live in a
very small way, and that I should have to work like you—-for mother."
"Not like us, for pity's sake, Infanta!" cried Jock. "We have had
enough of that. The great use of you is to look after mother; and
keep her from galloping the life out of herself, and this chap from
worrying it out of her."
"Jock!" cried Armine, indignantly.
"Yes, you will, if you go on moaning about these fads, and making her
blame herself for them.
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