Since Miss Allyn’s departure Dollie had worried herself sick and was now lying at home, ill with an obstinate slow fever. Good Mrs. Haley had helped them all she could, but her husband was poor and the demands upon them were enormous.
Marion groaned to think of being obliged to call upon her for anything.
As the door of the handsome house swung open Marion stepped wearily into the hall, where she was asked by a haughty butler to state her errand to his mistress.
“She advertised for a governess,” said Marion, plaintively, “and I have an excellent education, I feel sure that I could suit her.”
“Know French and German?” asked the man in a hard voice. “Can you teach the Delsarte method and play the piano?”
Marion stared at him for a second.
“The advertisement reads that Mrs. Van Siegen will pay only $20 per month,” she said faintly. “Is it possible she expects any such accomplishments for that money?”
“Certainly,” said the butler with a pompous wave of his hand. “She not only expects it, but she’ll doubtless get it. There’s hundreds that will jump at the position which she offers.”
“Poor things. Well, they are welcome to it,” said Marion, with a sigh. “There must be people worse off than I am in the city.”
She went out of the house with dull despair in her heart. This bit of information had set her thinking.