“My sister Vic is a perfect brick!” cried Katherine, hugging her as she spoke.
Peter said nothing, but walked slowly out of the room, with his hands in his pockets.
“Peter has gone up to the workshop to think about it,” remarked Sophy, sagely.
“Yes; he reminds me of father in that,” said Honor. “He always went there after he had had a disagreeable business letter, or something troublesome. Dearest father! I am glad he never knew that we were going to be poor, he would have felt so badly. But do you know, girls, I really don’t mind it a bit, now. I feel as if it were going to be interesting. Just think of the satisfaction it will be to support ourselves!”
“I am going to see about my Symphony concert tickets right away,” said Katherine. “I didn’t know whether I had better go this winter when I heard that we had no money, but now that we are going to make so much I shall be able to, and I really ought to do everything to improve my music if I am going to give lessons.”
“Yes,” said Honor, though somewhat doubtfully, Katherine thought. “I—I think, though, that we shall have to be very economical even though we are going to make so much. I won’t order the jacket at Hollander’s I was thinking of. I’ll try at some cheaper place. If you think it will be very extravagant to have one made to order, I will try to find one ready made. What do you think?”
She looked at Victoria as she spoke. Victoria hesitated.
“I hate to say it, Honor,” she said at last, “for you are so generous and good, but it really seems as if we ought to get on with as few clothes as possible if we are so very poor. Do you—don’t you think—at least, is your last winter’s coat really hopeless? Wouldn’t it do this year?”
“Why of course it would do,” said Honor. “It isn’t much worn, and it is plain black, but it is frightfully old-fashioned. It has immense sleeves, and they have gone down so this year; but I could have them altered at a cheap tailor’s. You are right, Vic. I won’t get a new one.”
“And there are other things we might be economical in besides clothes,” continued Victoria, staring pensively at the fire. “The table, for instance.”