"Then what more is to be said?"
"But the sacrifice is the point. No girl wants to become one of a family which has to make such an effort to take her."
There was already a whisper of insecurity in his tone.
"Even so, I can't see why you shouldn't let the effort be our affair. Since we make it on our own responsibility—"
"I don't care anything about the responsibility, sir. All I'm thinking of is that the effort must be made."
"But what did you expect?"
"I haven't said that I expected anything. If I've been of the slightest help to Mrs. Brokenshire I'm happy to let the service be its own reward."
"But I'm not. It isn't my habit to remain under an obligation to any one."
"Nor mine," I said, demurely.
He stared.