human
Is mother any worse?
gpt
No; although she is no better, and any suffering she may endure is the hardest trial we can have to bear. Other perplexities are trying in proportion as they have relation to her, and all our perplexities must, in the end, bear upon her. How to conceal them is the study.
human
What have you to conceal? What? asked Mildred quickly, her large, childlike eyes full of wonder.
gpt
Mother knows, she has to, that we barely make both ends meet, and she thinks you are a perfect wonder, the way you manage. What is it, Clover? Is it Frank’s education you are worrying about again? Goodness! Don’t tell me you did the washing to save up money for that?
human
I’ve noticed lately that you aren’t half so jolly as you used to be.
gpt
Has mother noticed it?
human
No, not that I know of. You needn’t look so tragical. I only mean you are ever so much more thoughtful and old-womanish just lately than you used to be. I’m sure I don’t see why you should let yourself be bothered if we’re all willing to live right down at the bottom of everything, and I don’t make any fuss about wearing the same dress to school until the girls must think I’ve grown into it.
gpt
You have been good, Milly, just as good as you can be
human
Pshaw, I’m nothing to what you are for goodness. We all have to feel the pinch of poverty together, said Mildred with some grandiloquence;
gpt
finished the girl, quite heroically she thought, since there were such a number of joys that she yearned for and had to behold hopelessly in the possession of her more fortunate companions.
human
Come now, she added insistently,
gpt
Milly, —the older girl looked into her sister’s eyes with an expression full of loving trouble,—
human
I hate to tell you, but Uncle Adolph’s allowance hasn’t come this month.
gpt
It is a little late, that is all,
human
No, very sadly,
gpt
But he owed the money to father, said Mildred vehemently.
human
It was not charity to us, it was a debt.
gpt
Yes, but he simply says that on account of losses he will not be able to let us have any more money, and we cannot force him.
human
Mr. Van Tassel could. Have you told him? He is so very kind to us.
gpt
Yes, he is very kind; but there is nothing he could do about this.
human
What shall we do?
gpt
That is what I have been asking myself for days past.
human
That is why you did the washing! said the younger slowly and with awe, as though this thought did indeed bring home a realizing sense of the situation.
gpt
We are awfully—miserably poor,
human
Hush! Not so loud,
gpt
I shall have to leave school and help you do the housework, and Frank can never have any education at all,
human
He will have to get a position in some store as a cash boy. Mr. Van Tassel will probably help him that much,
gpt
Hush! Don’t keep bringing Mr. Van Tassel into it, said Clover nervously.
human
I can’t bear the thought of begging anybody for anything, even influence.
gpt
Then you have thought of something,
human
No, I haven’t, I haven’t, rejoined the other hastily.
gpt
Oh, Milly, forgive me.