“But is there such an appointment?” asked Julia, eagerly.
“Heaven knows; but if there is not, there ought to be.”
“And the salary, Mr. Bramleigh. Who pays it? What is it?”
“There again I am at fault; but her Majesty could never intend we should live like heathens,” said Augustus, “and we shall arrange it somehow.”
“Oh, if it were not for 'somehow,'” said Julia, “we poor people would be worse off in life than we are; but there are so many what the watchmakers call escapements in existence, the machinery manages to survive scores of accidents.”
“At all events we shall be all together,” said Augustus, “and we shall show a stouter front to fortune than if we were to confront her singly.”
“I think it a delightful plan,” said Julia. “What says Nelly?”
“I think,” said Nelly, gravely, “that it is more than kind in you to follow us into our banishment.”
“Then let us set off at once,” said Augustus, “for I own to you I wish to be out of men's sight, out of ear-shot of their comments, while this suit is going on. It is the publicity that I dread far more than even the issue. Once that we reach this wild barbarism we are going to, you will see I will bear myself with better spirits and better temper.”
“And will you not see Monsieur Pracontal before you go?” asked Julia.