Cicely, however, as a “Sunshiner,” turned her head from these shadows. A tithe of her pocket-money was given in charity. One girl, chronically hard up, borrowed five shillings which were never repaid. Ought this to be regarded as part of the tithe? Arabella, with inherited business instincts, answered in the affirmative. Eventually Cicely wrote to Dr. Pawley about it, and he decided against Arabella. A fortnight later Cicely received a box of chocolates which Arabella priced at ten shillings. For a week at least Cicely wondered who had sent the chocolates. She wrote an effusive letter of thanks to Brian, who sent another box, expressing regret that he had not thought of sending the first. Cicely, with a chocolate in her mouth, observed triumphantly:
“You see, Tiddy, out of evil comes good.”
“Yes; you’re fifteen bob up on the deal.”
From this happy conclusion there was no budging. Goodrich preached the comfortable doctrine from the pulpit; experience confirmed it. Evil had to be, because good oozed out of it. In the same philosophic spirit Arabella’s father advertised the virtues of Tiddle’s Family Pellets. If people didn’t suffer with dyspepsia Lady Tiddle wouldn’t wear pearls.
Cicely left school and returned to Upworthy with half a dozen delightful vistas of fun and enjoyment in front of her. Hunting, tennis, balls, jolly house parties, presentation at Court, and a London season. . . .
The outbreak of war closed all these avenues down which she and Arabella had hoped to dance so joyously.
Lady Selina, moreover, refused to share Arthur Wilverley’s conviction that the interests of high finance and industry would be paramount in determining hostilities within a year. Her brother, Lord Saltaire, held no such rosy views. Inspissated gloom settled upon that nobleman, not without reason. His vast estates were heavily dipped; he had never been able to lay by a penny-piece; the calls upon his ever-diminishing purse were innumerable. He said to his sister:
“The burden of increased taxation will be back-breaking, my dear Selina. We shall be hit harder than any other class. So I advise you to economise. Cut down expenses to the irreducible minimum! That’s my first and last word.”
Lady Selina sent for Gridley.
“Lord Saltaire,” she told her obsequious bailiff, “is reducing expenses to the minimum. We must do the same.”