"A good many tight places, from the time you've been at it, I should say. While your mother was pinching and denying herself, and your sisters were deprived of all society and every pleasure natural to their age and station. While your cousin was out in the world, working for daily bread——"
"Whose fault but her own? My mother's house always was and is open to her. My mother has begged and implored her to stay; it is the greatest grief to her to lose her."
"Your cousin is not the kind of woman to add to the burdens of those dear to her. Do you know that she supplies your sisters with typewriting work?"
"My sisters? Typewriting? What on earth for?"
"To help keep the house over your mother's head. People don't go on selling stock without lessening their income."
"Selling stock?"
"How do you suppose widows raise money without selling stock, or land, or whatever they happen to possess?"
"But I thought—I thought—her money was safely tied up."
"There are such things as releases—when the beneficiaries are of age——"
"Then that is what Agatha meant. She was bound not to let it out; she only hinted. I wish I had blown my brains out this morning."