“I think I shall go to see Avice this afternoon. I promised Steve that I would call before the end of the week if we had no news. He doesn’t want uncle to hear about Barney in town; he might be annoyed that we had not told him ourselves.”
When Hope saw her aunt’s face, however, she knew at a glance that she was too late with her news, and sat meekly listening to the tirade which followed, thankful that she was the listener instead of Philippa. Her gentleness was her best weapon, however; for, having said her say, Mrs Loftus began to soften and to regret having spoken so strongly. Argument or contradiction would have incensed her still further; but how could one go on scolding a pretty, timid creature who merely sat still and looked miserable? She paused, frowned, and finally asked the amount of the debts which Barney had left behind. “Everything, I mean—the whole sum for which you are liable.”
“I think, perhaps—I’m afraid nearly t-twenty pounds!”
The gasp with which Hope replied was for the magnitude of the sum mentioned; the echoing gasp from the other side of the fireplace was for an exactly opposite reason.
“Only twenty pounds!” cried Avice; “the price of a gown! The poor boy ran away for that! Hope dear, I will pay it myself; I will give it to you this afternoon before you go. You sha’n’t be worried about it any more.”
“It is paid already, dear. Steve saw to that at once. You are very kind, but Barney would not like it, and we have a good deal of money still left. Philippa drew it out of the bank.”
“You will be in the workhouse soon,” Mrs Loftus prophesied cheerfully. “I never heard anything more mad than to spend your capital as you are doing. Just think of the inroads you must have made into it this year!”
“I’d rather not, Aunt Loftus, if you don’t mind. It is always the first step which costs, but we have made a start, and hope to do wonders next year. At the worst I shall avoid the workhouse by throwing myself on Avice’s mercy.—You would have me down at the lodge, wouldn’t you, dear?”
The glance exchanged between the two cousins was full of confidence and affection, and Avice’s voice had a new ring of animation as she replied:
“I should like to have you always. Oh Hope! I do enjoy shopping now, and seeing the girls who were with us in summer. Mother is quite scandalised because we talk so much, but being with them does me more good than I can say. And the conjurer’s daughter is going to be married—to a magic-lantern man! I thought of having them down for their honeymoon.”