’Ah, if we could!  The very thing we were saying the other day!  But how?  I have no idea how.’

Miss Nunn seemed to hesitate.

’I don’t advise.  You mustn’t give any weight to what I say, except in so far as your own judgment approves it.  But couldn’t one open a preparatory school, for instance?  At Weston, suppose, where already you know a good many people.  Or even at Clevedon.’

Virginia drew in her breath, and it was easy for Miss Nunn to perceive that the proposal went altogether beyond her friend’s scope.  Impossible, perhaps, to inspire these worn and discouraged women with a particle of her own enterprise.  Perchance they altogether lacked ability to manage a school for even the youngest children.  She did not press the subject; it might come up on another occasion.  Virginia begged for time to think it over; then, remembering her invalid sister, felt that she must not prolong the visit.

‘Do take some of these flowers,’ said Miss Nunn, collecting a rich nosegay from the vases.  ’Let them be my message to your sister.  And I should be so glad to see Monica.  Sunday is a good time; I am always at home in the afternoon.’

With a fluttering heart Virginia made what haste she could homewards.  The interview had filled her with a turmoil of strange new thoughts, which she was impatient to pour forth for Alice’s wondering comment.  It was the first time in her life that she had spoken with a woman daring enough to think and act for herself.

CHAPTER IV

MONICA’S MAJORITY

In the drapery establishment where Monica Madden worked and lived it was not (as is sometimes the case) positively forbidden to the resident employees to remain at home on Sunday; but they were strongly recommended to make the utmost possible use of that weekly vacation.  Herein, no doubt, appeared a laudable regard for their health.  Young people, especially young women, who are laboriously engaged in a shop for thirteen hours and a half every weekday, and on Saturday for an average of sixteen, may be supposed to need a Sabbath of open air.  Messrs. Scotcher and Co. acted like conscientious men in driving them forth immediately after breakfast, and enjoining upon them not to return until bedtime.  By way of well-meaning constraint, it was directed that only the very scantiest meals (plain bread and cheese, in fact) should be supplied to those who did not take advantage of the holiday.

Messrs. Scotcher and Co. were large-minded men.  Not only did they insist that the Sunday ought to be used for bodily recreation, but they had no objection whatever to their young friends taking a stroll after closing-time each evening.  Nay, so generous and confiding were they, that to each young person they allowed a latchkey.  The air of Walworth Road is pure and invigorating about midnight; why should the reposeful ramble be hurried by consideration for weary domestics?