Even if we can't
quite live on our thirty pounds a year, we can manage with what money
dear mamma had in the bank."
Miss Martineau's face had become extremely lined and anxious.
"My dears," she said, "I fear I've done a rude thing; I fear I've
taken a liberty; but the fact is, you are so alone, poor darlings, and
Mr. Danesfield is an old friend of mine--and--and--I took the liberty
of asking him what your mother's balance was. He said, my dears--my
poor dears--that it was not quite two hundred pounds."
CHAPTER IV.
TO THE RESCUE.
Miss Martineau told her news with considerable agitation. She
considered it a terrible revelation. It seemed to her a very fearful
and disastrous thing that three girls brought up like the Mainwarings,
three girls still almost children, should be thrown on the world
without any means for their support.
Simple and primitive as their lives had been at Rosebury, they still
had been tenderly nurtured and warmly sheltered--no cold blast of
unkindness or neglect had visited them--they had been surrounded ever
by both love and respect. The love came principally from their mother
and from one another, but the respect came from all who knew them.
Pages:
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36