Whereupon Trix elevated the red marks which should have been her eyebrows, and exclaimed coolly—
“Hallo, still snapping! I thought you would be quite good-tempered after such a holiday!”
It was indeed like being at home again to hear a squabble between Ruth and Trix within the first ten minutes.
When the house was reached, there was the little mother standing in the doorway, smiling and waving her hands in welcome; but at the first sight of her both girls felt a sudden choking sensation in the throat, so wan did she appear, so bleached in colour, such a tiny, frail little creature to be burdened with the care of an impecunious household! She clung to her girls, and her girls clung to her, and presently they were seated together round the dining-room table, on which, in spite of Trix’s dismal prophecy, appeared a tray of the ever-welcome afternoon-tea.
“After their journey, Trix dear! I thought just this once,” murmured Mrs Connor apologetically. “Dear Ruth, how sweet you look! Is that a new coat? No, I see it is not; but it looks new, with that charming collar and vest. And your hair, dear; and Mollie’s, too! So beautifully done! I suppose the maid taught you? Oh, darlings, I’m thankful to have you back, but I should never have sent for you! You were on the spot, and could judge best what to do. Did you—did you let Uncle Bernard know of our trouble?”
The strained eagerness of the small face, the involuntary tremor in the voice, smote the girls to the heart. Ruth turned her head aside, herself on the verge of tears, while Mollie said brokenly—
“We sent him your letter to read, and when he said nothing I asked him point-blank if he would lend father enough money to put things right just now, and promised that we would all work to pay him back.”
“Yes, dear—yes! And then?”
“He wouldn’t. He jeered at me, and said he made it a rule never to throw good money after bad. He would keep us for the remaining six weeks, if we agreed to stay, but more than that he must refuse to do. So there seemed no alternative, mother dear, but to come straight away and try to help you ourselves.”
“Yes, dear—yes. Bless you! You were quite right!”