These things were beyond Connie’s understanding. She gave it up. But her mind impetuously ran forward.
‘How much is wanted—altogether?’
Alice, reluctantly, named a sum not much short of a thousand pounds.
‘Isn’t it awful?’
She sighed deeply. Yet already she seemed to be talking of other people’s affairs!
‘We can’t ever do it. It’s hopeless. Papa’s taken two little school-books to do. They’ll kill him with work, and will hardly bring in anything. And he’s full up with horrid exams and lectures. He’ll break down, and it all makes him so miserable, because he can’t really do the work the University pays him to do. And he’s never been abroad—even to Rome. And as to Greece! It’s dreadful!’ she repeated mechanically.
Connie sprang up and began to pace the little room. The firelight played on her mop of brown hair, bringing out its golden shades, and on the charming pensiveness of her face. Alice watched her, thinking—‘She could do it all, if she chose!’ But she didn’t dare to say anything, for fear of Nora.
Presently Connie gave a great stretch.
‘It’s damnable!’ she said, with energy.
Alice’s instinct recoiled from the strong word. It wasn’t the least necessary, she thought, to talk in that way.