Instantly Kitty's face grew as serious as Salvina's. "Oh, nonsense!" she said instinctively. The thought of her family returning to the discarded shell of apartments was humiliating; her own personality seemed being dragged back.
"We can't pay the rent. We must give a quarter's notice at once."
"Absurd! You'll only save a few shillings a week. Why can't you let apartments yourselves? At least you would preserve a decent appearance."
"Is it worth while having the responsibility of the rent? There's only mother and I—we shan't need a house."
"But there's Lazarus!"
"He'll have a place of his own. He'll marry before our notice expires."
"That same Jonas girl?"
"Yes."
"Ridiculous. Small tradespeople, and dreadfully common, all the lot. I thought he'd got over his passion for that bold black creature who's been seen licking ice-cream out of a street-glass. To connect us with that family! Men are so selfish. But I still don't see why you can't remain as you are—let your drawing-room, say, furnished."
"But it isn't furnished."