’I know that my place in the world is here, at Nuncombe Putney.  I have a pride about myself, and think that I never did wrong but once when I let mamma go into that odious Clock House.  It is a bad pride, and yet I’m proud of it.  I hav’n’t got a gown fit to go and stay with you, when you become a grand lady in Exeter.  I don’t doubt you’d give me any sort of gown I wanted.’

‘Of course I would.  Ain’t we sisters, Pris?’

’I shall not be so much your sister as he will be your husband.  Besides, I hate to take things.  When Hugh sends money, and for mamma’s sake it is accepted, I always feel uneasy while it lasts, and think that that plague of an indigestion ought to come upon me also.  Do you remember the lamb that came when you went away?  It made me so sick.’

‘But, Priscilla isn’t that morbid?’

’Of course it is.  You don’t suppose I really think it grand.  I am morbid.  But I am strong enough to live on, and not get killed by the morbidity.  Heaven knows how much more there may be of it forty years, perhaps, and probably the greater portion of that absolutely alone.’

‘No, you’ll be with us then if it should come.’

’I think not, Dolly.  Not to have a hole of my own would be intolerable to me.  But, as I was saying, I shall not be unhappy.  To enjoy life, as you do, is I suppose out of the question for me.  But I have a satisfaction when I get to the end of the quarter and find that there is not half-a-crown due to any one.  Things get dearer and dearer, but I have a comfort even in that.  I have a feeling that I should like to bring myself to the straw a day.’  Of course there were offers made of aid, offers which were rather prayers and plans suggested of what might be done between Brooke and Hugh; but Priscilla declared that all such plans were odious to her.  ‘Why should you be unhappy about us?’ she continued.  ’We will come and see you—­at least I will—­perhaps once in six months, and you shall pay for the railway ticket; only I won’t stay, because of the gown.’

‘Is not that nonsense, Pris?’

’Just at present it is, because mamma and I have both got new gowns for the wedding.  Hugh sent them, and ever so much money to buy bonnets and gloves.’

’He is to be married himself soon down at a place called Monkhams.  Nora is staying there.’

‘Yes with a lord,’ said Priscilla.  ’We sha’n’t have to go there, at any rate.’

‘You liked Nora when she was here?’

’Very much, though I thought her self-willed.  But she is not worldly, and she is conscientious.  She might have married that lord herself if she would.  I do like her.  When she comes to you at Exeter, if the wedding gown isn’t quite worn out, I shall come and see her.  I knew she liked him when she was here, but she never said so.’

‘She is very pretty, is she not?  He sent me her photograph.’

’She is handsome rather than pretty.  I wonder why it is that you two should be married, and so grandly married, and that I shall never, never have any one to love.’