"Nicky," she said, "is it true that Desmond's been doing drawings for you?"
"Yes," said Nicky, "she's done any amount."
"My dear boy, have you any idea of the amount you'll have to pay her?"
"I haven't," said Nicky, "I wish I had. I hate asking her, and yet I suppose I'll have to."
"Of course you'll have to. She won't hate it. She's got to earn her living as much as you have."
"Has she? You don't mean to say she's hard up?"
He had never thought of Desmond as earning her own living, still less as being hard up.
"I only wish she were," said Vera, "for your sake."
"Why on earth for my sake?"
"Because then, my dear Nicky, you wouldn't have to pay so stiff a price."