Part 42 (1/2)
”Then give it to them, Hazel. My dear child, what a ridiculous fuss you do make?”
”But, mother, do you not understand--do you not see that I have no money, and no means of making it up?”
”Really, Hazel, you are too absurd,” said Mrs Thorne with forced levity. ”What is the ridiculous amount?”
”Between twenty and thirty pounds.”
”Absurd! Why, I have often given as much, or more, for a new dress.
There, get the money from the school people--Mr Lambent, Mr Burge, or somebody--and pray do not bother me about it any more.”
”Mother, dear mother,” cried Hazel, ”have you no thought? Tell me, have you any of this money left?”
”Of course not, and I must beg of you not to address me in so disrespectful a manner. It is a very good thing that your little sisters are not awake. I would not have them hear you speak to me like this on any consideration.”
”How ever could you think of taking the money?”
”Now, this is too absurd; Hazel, when you leave me for days together without a penny. Why, I have even been obliged to go to Mrs Chute to borrow a s.h.i.+lling before now.”
”You have borrowed s.h.i.+llings of Mrs Chute, mother?”
”To be sure I have, my dear; and of course I had to pay them back. She said it was absurd not to use the school pence.”
”She told you that?” cried Hazel quickly.
”Yes, my dear; and she said that both she and Mr Chute often used the pence, and made the sum up again when he took his salary. There, I am sleepy. For goodness' sake, put away that box and get to bed, and don't be so ridiculous.”
Hazel looked piteously at her mother, and stood hesitating for a few minutes, asking herself what she was to do in such a strait, for it seemed as if Mrs Thorne had quite lost all sense of right and wrong.
Was this really, then, the reason why her mother had expressed such a keen desire to got. It seemed like it, and this explained a great deal; for as Hazel studied her appearance more, it became evident to her that the poor woman was in a state of intense nervous trepidation, and that she hardly dare meet her daughter's eye.
”Mother,” said Hazel at length, ”the churchwarden will be here to-morrow, asking me for this money. What am I to say?”
”Say nothing, you foolish child! Pay him out of some other money.”
”You know, mother, that I have no other money whatever.”
”Then tell him to wait, like any other trades-person. He is only a common man. Such people as these must take their money when they can get it.”
”Are you wilfully blinding yourself to the fact, mother, that we have committed a theft in using this money?”
”My dear, absurd child--”
”That it is as great a trouble as that from the consequences of which poor, foolish Percy has just been rescued by Mr Burge?”
”Then go to Mr Burge, Hazel, and tell him that you were obliged to use the money because the salary is so small. He will give you the amount directly, my dear;” and she nodded and smiled as she eagerly reiterated her advice.
”Mother, mother, what are you thinking of?”
”I'm thinking of what is for the best, Hazel, under the circ.u.mstances,”
said Mrs Thorne pompously.