Vizard helped her, “Miss Gale has heard from her mother.”
“Yes, Miss Vizard,” said Rhoda, timidly; “and very bad news. She cannot come at present; and I am so distressed at what I have done in borrowing that money of you; and see, I have spent nearly three pounds of it in dress; but I have brought the rest back.”
Zoe looked at her brother, perplexed.
“Stuff and nonsense!” said Vizard. “You will not take it, Zoe.”
“Oh, yes; if you please, do,” said Rhoda still to Zoe. “When I borrowed it, I felt sure I could repay it; but it is not so now. My mother says it may be months before she can come, and she forbids me positively to go to her. Oh! but for that, I'd put on boy's clothes, and go as a common sailor to get to her.”
Vizard fidgeted on his chair.
“I suppose I mustn't go in a passion,” said he, dryly.
“Who cares?” said Miss Gale, turning her head sharply on him in the way I have tried to describe.
“I care,” said Vizard. “I find wrath interfere with my digestion. Please go on, and tell us what your mother says. She has more common sense than somebody else I won't name—politeness forbids.”
“Well, who doubts that?” said the lady, with frank good humor. “Of course she has more sense than any of us. Well, my mother says—oh, Miss Vizard!”