"No!" Sarah did not affect her sister's friend, and did not trouble herself to disguise her feelings towards her.
Lucy explained: "She is making it for Jeannie. She does everything for that child."
"You are very sisterly and kind, I am sure," Victoria continued, patronizingly. "You must quite despise Lucy and myself for thinking of and doing so much for ourselves, while you are such a pattern of self-denial."
A blaze shot up in Sarah's eye; then she said, coldly: "I am not self-denying. Have I ever found fault with you or Lucy for doing as you like?"
"Oh, no, my dear. But you take no interest in what we enjoy. I dare say, now, you would think it a dull business to work day after day for three or four weeks together, crocheting a shawl which may go out of fashion before one has a chance to sport it at a watering-place."
"I certainly should!" The curl of the thin upper lip would have answered for her had she not spoken.
"And you hate the very sight of shellwork and cone-frames, and Grecian painting, and all such vanities?"
"If I must speak the truth, I do—most heartily."
Victoria was not easily turned from her purpose.
"Come, Sarah! Tell us what you would have us, poor trifling, silly things, do to kill the time."