'Oh, it's nothing to me. I never pay any attention to money, you know.' She managed a smile, trying to plead with him to think any such sacrifice a small matter, whether in another or in himself.
'Well, I see your plan, and it's very kind. A little Quixotic perhaps, Peggy——'
'Quixotic! If it saves her pain?' Peggy flashed out in real indignation.
'Anyhow what's the use of talking about it? Five hundred isn't four thousand, and Fricker won't come down, you know.'
It was pathetic to her to listen to the studied carelessness of his voice, to hear the easy reasonable words come from the twitching lips, to see the forced smile under the troubled brow. His agony was revealed to her; he was asked to throw all his dearest overboard. She stretched out her hands towards him.
'I might get help from friends, Airey.'
'Three thousand five hundred pounds?'
With sad bitterness she heard him. He was almost lying now; his manner and tone were a very lie.
'Friends who—who love her, Airey.'