"Yes, of course I am or I should not say so."
"I should have thought you would have been glad!"
Violet flushed and was silent for a minute, then she said candidly: "I am rather surprised myself that I am not. I have thought very hard things of you, Agnes."
"Not harder than I have deserved."
"Perhaps not; nevertheless, I am sorry for you now, for I see you are very unhappy, and if I can do anything to help you I will, gladly."
"You can't do anything, thank you, but I—I should like to tell you—I wonder you haven't heard—I should have thought Ruth would have written—hasn't she told you about my father?"
"No," Violet replied, shaking her head and wondering at the other's incoherent utterance. "Is he ill, Agnes?" she inquired.
"Oh, no! He's failed."
"Failed?" Violet echoed, not understanding.
"Yes. He's lost all his money, and everything he has will be sold—even our house and furniture."