“Now that this property has come in,” continued Magdalen, “we can live comfortably together upon it for the present, and your expenses at Oxford can be paid, as well as masters in what may be needful for the others, and an allowance for dress. I suppose you will want the £40 while you are at St. Robert’s, besides the regular expenses?”
“Thank you,” warmly said.
“But I want you to understand, as I think you do, about the future, for you must be prepared to be independent.”
“I should have wished for a career if I had been a millionaire,” said Agatha.
“I believe you would, and it is well that you should have every advantage. But the others. If I left you all this property, it would not be a comfortable maintenance divided among four; and you would not like to be dependent, or to leave the last who might not marry to a pittance alone.”
“Certainly not,” said Agatha, with flashing eyes.
“Then you see that it is needful that you should be able to do something for yourselves. I can give one of you at a time the power of going to the University.”
“I don’t think Vera or Polly would wish for that,” said Agatha.
“Well, what would they wish for? I can do something towards preparing them, and I can teach Thekla, but I should like to know what you think would be best for them.”
“Vera’s strong point is music,” said Agatha. “She cares for that more than anything else, and Mr. Selby thought she had talent and might sing, only she must not strain her voice. I don’t believe she will do much in any other line. And Polly—she is very good, and always does her best because it is right, but I don’t think anything is any particular pleasure to her, except needlework. She is always wanting to make things for the church. She really has a better voice than Flapsy, and can play better, but that is because she is so much steadier.”