CHAPTER XXXI.
A "CONTINUAL READER." A few days after the girls were comfortably settled in their new quarters Primrose went out.

She went out all alone, for by this time London streets and London ways were familiar to her.

Neatly and very quietly dressed, with the usual serene light on her sweet face, and that dignity about her whole bearing which prevented any one from ever being rude to her, she went, not to her china-painting as usual, but simply to take exercise in the London streets.
The fact was, Primrose wanted to be alone--she wanted to think out a problem.

She was beginning to be perplexed, and even slightly alarmed.
Her alarm was not caused at present by anything in connection with Daisy, for Daisy seemed almost bright and well again; but money matters were not too prosperous with the young housekeeper, the life of independence she had hoped to attain for herself and her sisters seemed to recede from her view day by day--the china-painting brought in no apparent results; Mr.Jones never did anything except "all but" get customers--the quarter's allowance from Mr.Danesfield looked smaller and more inadequate to Primrose the more her experience in expenses grew, and now something about Miss Egerton added to her cares.

It seemed to Primrose that Miss Egerton was holding back something--she had always been frank and open with the girls, but when Primrose asked her how much their furniture had cost, and whether she had opened Mr.Danesfield's letter to pay for it the good lady's brow had grown troubled, and she had replied-- "I am busy to-day--I will go fully into the matter presently, Primrose;" but when morning after morning Miss Egerton was still too busy to go into the question, Primrose began to have nameless little fears, and had to scold herself for being fanciful and nervous.
On this afternoon she walked quickly, and without being herself aware of it she presently found herself in the neighborhood of Regent's Park, and at last not very far from Penelope Mansion.