“Poor Annie!” said Mabel, “I do pity you. But, of course, you won’t be always with your uncle Maurice. Now forgive me for speaking as I did, and tell me your plan.”
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nest you are trying to land me in, Annie! As if Priscilla would consent!”
“Priscilla will consent. I have sounded her, and I know she will. She fights shy of it, of course, at first, but she will consent, and before morning.”
“But, Annie, what good will it do her? My going away from the school won’t give her money to stay here.”
“Ah,” said Annie, “now comes the crux. You must give her money to stay; you must manage it. You always have heaps of pocket-money. You must undertake to pay all her school expenses for at least a year.”
“Now you are a silly!” answered Mabel.
“To begin with, I have not the slightest idea what Priscilla’s school bills amount to. I know nothing about my own school bills, far less hers. Aunt Henrietta pays for me, and there’s an end of the thing.”
“Mabel,” said Annie, who was now very much excited, “don’t be horrid, please. Listen to me.”
“I am listening. You are propounding an impossible plan, and I am telling you my opinion. Have you anything further to say to me?”