Maggie shall take it in hand."
"Let her! I shall only be too delighted! What a jolly time the saintly
Priscilla will have."
"I can't stay any longer, Rosalind."
"But, Nancy, just one moment. I want to put accounts right with Polly
before to-night. Mother sent me ten pounds to buy something at the
auction. The coral cost fourteen guineas. I have written to mother for
the balance, and it may come by any post. Do lend it to me until it
comes! Do, kind Nancy!"
"I have not got so much in the world, I have not really, Rosalind.
Good-by; my lecture will have begun."
Nancy ran out of the room and Miss Merton turned to survey ruefully
her empty purse and to read again a letter which had already arrived
from her mother:
MY DEAR ROSALIND: I have not the additional money to spare you, my
poor child. The ten pounds which I weakly yielded at your first
earnest request was, in reality, taken from the money which is to
buy your sisters their winter dresses. I dare not encroach any
further on it, or your father would certainly ask me why the girls
were dressed so shabbily. Fourteen guineas for coral! You know, my
dear child, we cannot afford this extravagance. My advice is to
return it to your friend and to ask her to let you have the ten
guineas back.
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