"What were your wages, may I ask, Miss Marsh?"
"Thirty pounds a year."
"Really?" in a tone of excessive surprise. "Many ladies are glad to go as companion without any salary, just for the sake of a home and congenial society. I daresay you've been able to save a good deal in all these years."
"I had to dress myself decently, Mrs. Wickham," said Nora frigidly.
Mrs. Wickham was graciousness itself. "Well, I'm sure my husband will be very glad to give you a year's salary, won't you, Jim?"
"It's very kind of you," replied Nora coldly, "but I'm not inclined to accept anything but what is legally due to me."
"You must remember," went on Mrs. Wickham, "that there'll be very heavy death duties to pay. They'll swallow up the income from Miss Wickham's estate for at least two years, won't they, Mr. Wynne?"
"I quite understand," said Nora.
"Perhaps you'll change your mind."
"I don't think so."