Bessie. 'And we
will write and tell mother that is settled. And what else _can_ we do,
Camilla? Father _must_ stay as long as the doctors think necessary. It
is the middle of March now; he has been there two months. I suppose he
should stay till the middle or end of July.'

'And then go abroad,' said Camilla.

'Ah well, we scarcely can hope for that. But I think, Camilla, you
should write to Aunt Flora: father will never do it, and mother would
not without his leave. But _we_ can. Ask her to lend us some money,
whatever is strictly necessary, and tell her that _somehow_ we will
repay her. She is very generous, and she would never forgive us if we
let father lose the last chance, for want of anything she could do.'

'But she has so little ready money,' said Camilla. 'I don't know if they
are bad managers, for they have a good income, but it all seems to go.'

'Father says they cannot help it. Uncle Lyle has so much to keep up out
there--entertaining and all sorts of things,' said Bessie. 'But I am
sure they would manage to lend us--how much?--fifty or a hundred pounds?
And Camilla, we _will_ repay it. Can we not save a little on our living?
I suppose we couldn't do with a room less; it would not be wholesome
for Margaret. And for her sake too we must not attempt still plainer
food.'

'No,' said Camilla, 'I fear that is impossible. You see Margaret is so
quick. She would notice in a moment if you and I eat less or at all
differently from her. But--yes, perhaps the time has come when we must
apply definitely to Aunt Flora. I will write by the next mail.'

'And Camilla, if we tide over this present trouble,' said Bessie, 'I
think you or I must do something--something to earn money by. I am too
young to be a governess yet, but I know--she almost said it to me--that
Miss Scarlett would take me even now as a sort of pupil-teacher, and two
years hence I think I might be a governess--to young children.'

'It may have to be,' the elder sister agreed. 'But the question is
_which_ of us should go. I could be a governess already, but then that
stops your and Margaret's education. And, Bessie, it would be rather
additionally trying to father and mother--father especially--for you to
be in that kind of position at _Thetford_, the very part of the country
our family comes from. And so near to Robin Redbreast too.'

Bessie reared her head. '_I_ don't mind that,' she said. 'I should
rather like it the better.'

'But _father_?'