Part 58 (2/2)

She was quite ready, however, to discuss her brother Cedric and his wife, or the prospects of Pamela and Archie, and Alex listened all the evening to Barbara's incisive little clear tones delivering shrewd comments and judgments. She again suggested that Alex should go to bed early, saying as she kissed her good-night:

”It's quite delightful to have some one to talk to, for me. I generally read or sew all the evening.”

”It must be lonely for you, Barbara.”

”Oh, I don't mind quiet,” she laughed, as though edging away from any hint of emotional topic. ”But, of course, it's nice to have some one for a change. Good-night.” She turned towards the door of the bedroom. ”Oh, Alex! there's just one thing--I know you'd rather I said it. If you wouldn't mind, sometime--any time you think of it--just letting me have the money for those clothes we bought for you today. The bills have come in--I asked for them, as I don't have an account. I knew you'd rather be reminded, knowing what pauper I am. I only wish I hadn't got to worry you. Good-night, my dear. Sleep well.”

XXV

Violet

For days and nights to come, the question of the money that Barbara had paid for her clothes weighed upon Alex.

She had no idea how she was to repay her.

The money that had been given her in Rome for her journey to England had only lasted her to Charing Cross, and even her cab fare to Hampstead had been supplemented by Barbara. Alex remembered it with fresh dismay. Even when she had left Downs.h.i.+re Hill and was in Clevedon Square again, the thought lashed her with a secret terror, until one day she said to Cedric:

”What ought I to do, Cedric, to get my fifty pounds a year? Who do I get it from?”

”Don't Pumphrey and Scott send it half yearly? I thought that was the arrangement. You gave them your change of address, I suppose.”

”Oh, no,” said Alex gently. ”I've never written to them, except once, just after father died, to ask them to make the cheques payable to to the Superior.”

”What on earth made you do that?”

”They thought it was best. You see, I had no banking account, so the money was paid into the Community's account.”

”I see,” Cedric remarked drily. ”Well, the sooner you write and revoke that arrangement, the better. When did they last send you a cheque? In June?”

”I don't know,” Alex was forced to say, feeling all the time that Cedric must be thinking her a helpless, unpractical fool.

”Write and find out. And meanwhile--I say, Alex, have you enough to go on with?”

”I--I haven't any money, Cedric. In Rome they gave me enough for my travelling expenses, but nothing is left of that.”

”But what have you done all this time? I suppose you've wanted clothes and things.”

”I got some with Barbara, but they aren't paid for. And there are some other things I need--you see, I haven't got anything at all--not even stamps,” said Alex forlornly. ”Violet said something about taking me to some shops with her, but I suppose all her places are very expensive.”

”They are--dashed expensive,” Cedric admitted, with a short laugh. ”But look here, Alex, will you let me advance you what you want? It couldn't be helped, of course--but the whole arrangement comes rather hard on you, as things are now. You see, poor Barbara is really as badly off as she can be. Ralph was a most awful a.s.s, between ourselves, and muddled away the little he had, and she gets pretty nearly nothing, except a widow's pension, which was very small, and the money father left. If you'll believe me, Ralph didn't even insure his life, before going to South Africa. Of course, he didn't go to fight, but on the staff of one of the big papers, and it was supposed to be a very good thing, and then what did he do but go and get dysentery before he'd been there a fortnight!”

Cedric's voice held all the pitying scorn of the successful.

”Poor Barbara,” said Alex.

”That's just what she is. Of course, I think myself that Pamela will make your share over to you again when she marries. _She's_ not likely to make a rotten bad match like Barbara--far from it. But until then she can't do anything, you know--at least, not until she's of age, if then.”

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