“But, my dear girls, pray remember that a needlewoman would have to be paid, and pray where is the money to come from?”
“Anna van Gulpendam,” put in Matilda quickly, “I know always has her needlewoman.”
“No doubt she has,” said Mrs Meidema; “but you must remember, Tilda, that Anna is an only child, and that she is, moreover, the Resident’s daughter.”
“Is there then very much difference, mother, between the income of a Resident and that of an Assistant Resident.”
“I should think so, indeed,” replied Mrs. Meidema; “the Resident draws fifteen hundred guilders a month at least, and your father has at the most but five hundred.”
“So much difference as that,” said Matilda, seriously; “indeed I never thought it was so much.”
“And then, Tilda dear,” continued her mother, “as I said before, the Resident has but one daughter, and we have five children to provide for.”
“Are children very expensive?” asked Gesina.
“You can reckon it up for yourself, Sijntje—there is food to get and clothing and school-fees and—oh, ever so many odds and ends besides.”
“It is a pity!” sighed the girl, after a while.