"And I think we may yet be very happy in it," said Mrs. Raynor.
Alice strove to think so too, and put on a cheerful face. But the old days were ever present with her; and she never recalled the past hopes connected with William Stane, but her heart turned sick and faint in its despair.
"It will be your turn next, Charles," observed Edina, taking the opportunity of speaking to him the following morning, when they were alone.
"My turn?" repeated Charles, vaguely: conscious that he knew what she meant, but not choosing to acknowledge it.
"To do something for yourself," added Edina. "You cannot intend to live upon your mother."
"Of course I do not, Edina. How stupid you are."
"And the question is, what is that something to be?" she continued, passing over his compliment to herself.
"I should like to go into the army, Edina."
Edina shook her head. Her longer experience of life, her habits of forethought, enabled her to see obstacles that younger people did not see.
"Even if you had the money to purchase a commission, Charley——"