Nevertheless, when the younger girls retired to bed she sat up, and,
taking out an account-book, began an impossible task. Even all the
resources of this young and vigorous brain could not make thirty
pounds cover a year's expenses. Again and again Primrose tried. The
rent of the cottage was twelve pounds a year. She pronounced this
extravagant, and wondered if they could possibly get a cheaper
dwelling.
Then there were Hannah's wages. Well, of course, they could do without
Hannah--it would be very painful to part with her, but anything would
be better than the humiliating conclusion that Mrs. Ellsworthy and
Miss Martineau considered them too poor to live. Then, of course, they
could do without meat--what did healthy girls want with meat?
Only--and here Primrose sighed deeply--Daisy was not _very_ strong.
Eggs were cheap enough in Rosebury, and so was butter, and they could
bake their own bread; and as to clothes, they would not want any more
for a long time. Here Primrose again felt herself pulled up short, for
Jasmine's walking-shoes were nearly worn through.
She went to bed at last, feeling very depressed and anxious. Thirty
pounds was really a much smaller sum of money than she had given it
credit for being.
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