Gertrude was silent a moment, then said, with something of an effort: "Let us direct our attention to the charming new people we have got to know. One gets to know them in such a much more pleasant way, somehow."
Lucy bent her head over her work, hiding her flushed face as she answered, "That is the best of being poor; one's chances of artificial acquaintanceships are so much lessened. One gains in quality what one loses in quantity."
"How moral we are growing," cried Phyllis. "We shall be quoting Scripture next, and saying it is harder for the camel to get through the needle's eye, &c., &c."
Gertrude laughed.
"There is another point to consider," she said. "I suppose you both know that we are not making our fortunes?"
"Yes," answered Lucy; "but, at the same time, the business has almost doubled itself in the course of the last three months."
"That sounds more prosperous than it really is, Lucy. If it hadn't done so, we should have had to think seriously of giving it up. And, as it is, we cannot be sure, till the end of the year, that we shall be able to hold on."
"You mean the end of the business year; next June?"
"Yes; Mr. Russel is coming, and there is to be a great overhauling of accounts."