She spoke in a petulant, irritated manner, and her brows drew together as she looked out over the sea.
“Just so, my dear girl; but we cannot afford to live at such a rate as two hundred pounds a month.”
“I have entertained a great many people.” This was said with a sullen inflexion in her voice.
“So I see, Nell. But you need not have done so. We don't want such a lot of visitors.”
“It is all very well for you to talk like that, Jack, but you must remember that I have to keep myself alive in this wretched place whilst you are away.”
Brabant turned his deep-set eyes upon her. “Did you find it so very dull then, Nell?”
“Yes, I did. I hate the place, and hate the people, and so I suppose I spent more of your money than I should have done had I been living anywhere else.”
“Don't say ' your money,' Nell. I am only too happy to know that I am able to meet all these bills, heavy as they are; and I want you to enjoy yourself as much as possible. But we cannot spend money at this rate, my girl.”
He spoke with a certain grave tenderness that only served to irritate her.
“Am I to live here like the wife of one of the common shopkeepers on the beach—see no one, go out nowhere?”