'Independent! Oh, Alice, what a blessed thing is independence! Do
you know, my dear, I am afraid I have not exerted myself as I might
have done to find a new place. These comfortable lodgings, and the
pleasure of seeing Monica once a week, have tempted me into
idleness. It isn't really my wish to be idle; I know the harm it
does me; but oh! if one could work in a home of one's own!'

Alice had a startled, apprehensive look, as if her sister were
touching on a subject hardly proper for discussion, or at least
dangerous.

'I'm afraid it's no use thinking of that, dear,' she answered
awkwardly.

'No use; no use whatever. I am wrong to indulge in such thoughts.'

'Whatever happens, my dear,' said Alice presently, with all the
impressiveness of tone she could command, 'we must never entrench
upon our capital--never--never!'

'Oh, never! If we grow old and useless--'

'If no one will give us even board and lodging for our services--'

'If we haven't a friend to look to,' Alice threw in, as though they
were answering each other in a doleful litany, 'then indeed we shall
be glad that nothing tempted us to entrench on our capital! It would
just keep us'--her voice sank--'from the workhouse.'

After this each took up a volume, and until teatime they read