‘But she’ll feel it very hard with the children.’
The children were sitting together in a corner of the kitchen. Emma glanced at them, and saw that Bertie, the elder, was listening with a surprised look.
‘Yes, I’m sorry,’ she replied simply, ‘but we have no choice.’
Alice had an impulse of generosity.
‘Then take it from me,’ she said. ‘You won’t mind that. You know I have plenty of my own. Live here and let one or two of the rooms, and I’ll lend you what you need till the business is doing well. Now you can’t have anything to say against that?’
Emma still shook her head.
‘The business will never help us. We must go back to the old work; we can always live on that. I can’t take anything from you, Alice.’
‘Well, I think it’s very unkind, Emma.’
‘Perhaps so, but I can’t help it: It’s kind of you to offer, I feel that; but I’d rather work my fingers to the bone than touch one halfpenny now that I haven’t earned.’
Alice bridled slightly and urged no more. She left before Kate returned.