Virginia explained Alice’s absence, adding,—
“As for poor Monica, she has only Sunday free—except one evening a month. She is at business till half-past nine, and on Saturday till half-past eleven or twelve.”
“Oh, dear, dear, dear!” exclaimed the other rapidly, making a motion with her hand as if to brush away something disagreeable. “That will never do. You must put a stop to that.”
“I am sure we ought to.”
Virginia’s thin, timid voice and weak manner were thrown into painful contrast by Miss Nunn’s personality.
“Yes, yes; we will talk about it presently. Poor little Monica! But do tell me about yourself and Miss Madden. It is so long since I heard about you.”
“Indeed I ought to have written. I remember that at the end of our correspondence I remained in your debt. But it was a troublesome and depressing time with me. I had nothing but groans and moans to send.”
“You didn’t stay long, I trust, with that trying Mrs. Carr?”
“Three years!” sighed Virginia.
“Oh, your patience!”