“What is dreadful?” she asked him, with sudden tenseness in her tone. “My earning money in an honorable way? Why, Larry, you know I came to Rivercliff with that expectation.”
“But this—er—domestic service,” he said faintly. Then, with sudden heat: “And is it true that you go out—by the day—to people’s houses—to do such work?”
“Not just like this, Larry,” said the girl, gently, and still watching him covertly.
“But it seems too dreadful! Does your mother know it?”
“I presume she has her suspicions,” and Beth laughed shortly.
“I don’t mean to offend you——”
“Then let us talk of something else, dear Larry, for I see that we never shall agree in this matter. I will tell you that mother borrowed from some one four hundred dollars to pay for my first year at school here. I must pay that sum back, for, with father out of work, my education must cease with the completion of the term paid for. Now! we will drop it. How is father?”
Larry, too, tried his best to get away from the subject, and to talk pleasantly of home affairs. But how could he ignore Beth’s domestic activities when she kept on busily dusting all through his visit?
The drawing-room was finished, Larry’s call came to an end, and her free hour was over, all at the same time. She went composedly with him to the front door, removing her cap and apron as she heard the girls come out of the lecture room above. Madam Hammersly had stolen away and left them alone.
“Good-bye, Larry,” Beth said calmly, giving him her hand. “Remember me to everybody at home.”