‘But you are ruining yourselves, foolish people!’

The others exchanged a look, and smiled with such a strange air that Monica could not but notice it.

‘I know!’ she cried.  ’There’s good news.  You have found something, and better than usual Virgie.’

’Perhaps so.  Who knows?  Eat your slice of cake like a good child, and then I shall have something to tell you.’

Obviously the two were excited.  Virginia moved about with the recovered step of girlhood, held herself upright, and could not steady her hands.

‘You would never guess whom I have seen,’ she began, when Monica was quite ready to listen.  ’We had a letter the other morning which did puzzle us so—­I mean the writing before we opened it.  And it was from—­Miss Nunn!’

This name did not greatly stir Monica.

‘You had quite lost sight of her, hadn’t you?’ she remarked.

’Quite.  I didn’t suppose we should ever hear of her again.  But nothing more fortunate could have happened.  My dear, she is wonderful!’

At considerable length Virginia detailed all she had learnt of Miss Nunn’s career, and described her present position.

’She will be the most valuable friend to us.  Oh, her strength, her resolution!  The way in which she discovers the right thing to do!  You are to call upon her as soon as possible.  This very after noon you had better go.  She will relieve you from all your troubles darling.  Her friend, Miss Barfoot, will teach you typewriting, and put you in the way of earning an easy and pleasant livelihood.  She will, indeed!’

‘But how long does it take?’ asked the astonished girl.

’Oh, quite a short time, I should think.  We didn’t speak of details; they were postponed.  You will hear everything yourself.  And she suggested all sorts of ways,’ pursued Virginia, with quite unintentional exaggeration, ’in which we could make better use of our invested money.  She is full of practical expedients.  The most wonderful person!  She is quite like a man in energy and resources.  I never imagined that one of our sex could resolve and plan and act as she does!’

Monica inquired anxiously what the projects for improving their income might be.

‘Nothing is decided yet,’ was the reply, given with a confident smile.  ’Let us first of all put you in comfort and security; that is the immediate need.’

The listener was interested, but did not show any eagerness for the change proposed.  Presently she stood at the window and lost herself in thought.  Alice gave signs of an inclination to doze; she had had a sleepless night, in spite of soporifics.  Though no sun entered the room, it was very hot, and the presence of a third person made the air oppressive.

‘Don’t you think we might go out for half an hour?’ Monica whispered, when Virginia had pointed to the invalid’s closed eves.  ’I’m sure it’s very unhealthy for us all to be in this little place.’