‘Are you feeling better?’ Alice asked. She tried in vain to speak with the friendliness of past days; that could never be restored. Her advantages of person and dress were no help against the embarrassment caused in her by the simple dignity of the wronged and sorrowing girl.
Emma replied that she was better, then asked:
‘Have you come only to see me; or for something else?’
‘I wanted to know how you were; but I’ve brought you something as well’
She took an envelope from within her muff. Emma shook her head.
‘No, nothing more,’ she said, in a tone removed alike from resentment and from pathos; ‘I want you, please, to say that we can t take anything after this.’
‘But what are you going to do, Emma?’
‘To leave this house and live as we did before.’
‘Oh, but you can’t do that What does Kate say?’
‘I haven’t told her yet; I’m going to do so to-day.’