A fearful thought has just struck Honor, and as Doris comes out to her in the passage she stares at her blankly, saying:
"What in the world shall we do for her wages, Doris? She must have them before she goes."
"I have got the ten shillings aunt gave me when I left," says poor Doris dolefully. "I must give that towards them, of course. And I think mother has a little money by her. We must try and make it up among us, Honor, and we must borrow again from the house-keeping money, and dine off puddings and potatoes and such things a little more often."
Here Molly comes bounding out into the passage.
"Why, what is the matter with you two?" she asks. "You look as if you had discovered a dynamite plot or something."
Whereupon Honor tells her of the difficulty, and Molly, diving into the recesses of her pocket, draws forth a jubilee half-crown, which she has been hoarding up for future emergencies.
"Take it, Honor," she says, "it will have to go some time or other, so it may as well go now!"
And with a sigh of resignation she is turning away again, but Honor stops her.
"No, dear," she says, kissing her young sister, "it is like your generosity to give up all you possess; but with a little management, and perhaps a little help from mother, we shall be able to arrange, I am sure; and Doris shall not give up hers either."
"Well, but you are giving up every farthing of your own little private income for the good of everybody," exclaims Doris. "And I'm sure it is only fair that Molly and I should do the little we can do."