It was settled that Grace should go to Allington;--but how about her clothes?
And then, whence was to come the price of her journey?
"I don't think they'll mind about my being shabby at Allington.

They live very quietly there." "But you say that Miss Dale is so very nice in all her ways." "Lily is very nice, mamma; but I shan't mind her so much as her mother, because she knows it all.

I have told her everything." "But you have given me all your money, dearest." "Miss Prettyman told me I was to come to her," said Grace, who had already taken some small sum from the schoolmistress, which at once had gone into her mother's pocket, and into household purposes.

"She said I should be sure to go to Allington, and that of course I should go to her, as I must pass through Silverbridge." "I hope papa will not ask about it," said Mrs.Crawley.Luckily papa did not ask about it, being at the moment occupied much with other thoughts and other troubles, and Grace was allowed to return by Silverbridge, and to take what was needed from Miss Prettyman.

Who can tell of the mending and patching, of the weary wearing midnight hours of needlework which were accomplished before the poor girl went, so that she might not reach her friend's house in actual rags?
And when the work was ended, what was there to show for it?
I do not think that the idea of the bare bodkin, as regarded herself, ever flitted across Mrs.Crawley's brain,--she being one of those who are very strong to endure; but it must have occurred to her very often that the repose of the grave is sweet, and that there cometh after death a levelling and making even of things, which would at last cure all her evils.
Grace no doubt looked forward to a levelling and making even of things,--or perhaps even to something more prosperous than that, which should come to her relief on this side of the grave.