"None, uncle. He has not had it to send."
"Yet you are in need of a little?"
She looked at him, and her lips trembled slightly; and then again, a moment afterwards, the same expression of dreamy happiness stole into her face which he had observed before.
"Yes, uncle, a little, a very little. But I shall manage; I have already earned a trifle."
"In what way?" inquired Mr. Loveday, much mystified.
"I got some needlework to do, and am being paid for it."
"But in the name of all that's reasonable," exclaimed Mr. Loveday, "where and when do you do your work?"
"In my room of a night, uncle," replied Nansie, blushing.
"When we are all asleep," said Mr. Loveday, with the nearest approach to a grumble she had heard from his lips. "This must not continue, Nansie. You will do your work here of an evening and during the day, if it is necessary."
"Yes, uncle, I will obey you. But--" her form swayed slightly, and she was compelled to make an effort to keep herself from swooning--"you must not be angry with me. I am not very strong just now."