“Why is that? I thought your people not only belonged to the county, but were as rich as Jews.”
“We are county people, of course,” said Rose, in her most affected manner, “but county people need not invariably be rich. The fact is my father has had some losses lately, and mother says she must be careful. I wanted a great many things, and she said she simply could not give them. Oh, if only that spiteful Miss Oliphant had not prevented my getting the sealskin jacket, and if she had not raised the price of Polly’s pink coral!”
“Don’t begin that old story again, Rose. When all is said and done, you have got the lovely coral. By the way, it will come in beautifully for the Elliot-Smiths’ party. You’ll wear it, of course?”
“Oh, I don’t know.”
“What do you mean? Of course you’ll wear it.”
“I don’t know. The fact is I have not paid the whole price for it yet.”
“Haven’t you, really? You said you’d bring the money when you returned this term.”
“Of course I thought I could, but I was absolutely afraid to tell mother what a lot the coral cost; and as she was so woefully short of funds, I had just to come away without the money. I never for a moment supposed I should have such ill luck.”
“It is awkward. What are you going to say to Polly Singleton?”
“I don’t know. I suppose you could not help me, Annie?”