"What do you want with me?" said her aunt, when she had closed the door of the breakfast room, behind them.
"Will you have the kindness first to read that letter?"
"Well, I see from it that your friend—let me see where does she live?—Oh, yes, I see, at Stratford—romantic place certainly, Shakespeare and all that—well, she says she will be happy to receive you—eh?"
"Yes," replied Mabel; "she was an old friend of mine, and not being well off, or in good health, I have offered to educate her children for nothing."
Mrs. Villars opened her eyes.
"Thus you see, aunt, I shall be able to do very well; for my little fortune, small as it is, will keep me in dress."
Mrs. Villars smiled kindly, saying, that though Mabel had not been perfectly candid, still she rejoiced to hear that she had not been left without resources, as she had imagined.
This speech was spoken so smoothly, that Mabel was puzzled.
"Surely aunt there was nothing left for me to tell—the only money I have, is in your hands, and when you can conveniently let me have it, or part of it, I shall carry my plan into execution."
"There must be some mistake in this, my dear. I have no money of yours, except the half sovereign you kindly lent me the other morning. What do you mean?"