“Yes, oil the wheels,” repeated Eileen, “and there are plenty of rusty ones about here.”
“Yes, things are about at a standstill,” said Mollie, “and of course it would have to be to Father you would lend money, and I suppose he won’t want to take it, because he’ll think it will be such a long time before he can pay it all back; but we will pay you back—in time; but, of course, we can’t let Father know we mean to pay. We’ll work and work till we pay back every penny. In about two years’ time I’ll be able to go out as ladyhelp, and if Eileen could get some education she could go out as governess later on, and we’d both save up to pay you back. Oh, Uncle! you don’t know how we’d save and scrape, if we can only get money now——”
“And I have three pet lambs that I’ll sell when the drought breaks,” said Eileen, “and that will be a help towards it.”
“And Dadda gave me old Jennie’s foal, and I’ll sell it when it grows up,” said Eva, eagerly; “and then I’ll go out to work, too.”
“You are clever little girls,” said Uncle, gravely. “Don’t you think you would rather be something else than ladyhelps and governesses?”
“Oh, yes!” cried Mollie, “but we’ll do anything to make money if you will only help us now.”
“Yes, and later on I might be an actress,” said Eileen, calmly.
“Would you like that?” asked Uncle.
“Oh, I wouldn’t mind! It would be an easy way of making a living, and I’d have plenty of fun and chocolates, and pretty dresses.”
“Some day I’d like to be a rich lady,” said Doris, “and I’d give all little girls a real nice time.”