“Let me do it,” Miss Minerva suggested.
Carmina’s sad face brightened. “That’s kind indeed!” she said.
“Nonsense! I shall take the children out, after dinner to-day. Looking over lodgings will be an amusement to me and to them.”
“Where is Zo? Why haven’t you brought her with you?”
“She is having her music lesson—and I must go back to keep her in order. About the lodging? A sitting-room and bedroom will be enough, I suppose? In this neighbourhood, I am afraid the terms will be rather high.”
“Oh, never mind that! Let us have clean airy rooms—and a kind landlady. Teresa mustn’t know it, if the terms are high.”
“Will she allow you to pay her expenses?”
“Ah, you put it delicately! My aunt seemed to doubt if Teresa had any money of her own. I forgot, at the time, that my father had left her a little income. She told me so herself, and wondered, poor dear, how she was to spend it all. She mustn’t be allowed to spend it all. We will tell her that the terms are half what they may really be—and I will pay the other half. Isn’t it cruel of my aunt not to let my old nurse live in the same house with me?”
At that moment, a message arrived from one of the persons of whom she was speaking. Mrs. Gallilee wished to see Miss Carmina immediately.
“My dear,” said Miss Minerva, when the servant had withdrawn, “why do you tremble so?”