"At the same time, I must not think of hiring a boat this summer." "Are we so frightfully poor, mother ?" asked Mab.
Mrs.Bertram's brow contracted as if in pain, but she answered with unwonted calm and gentleness: "I have a fixed income, my dear Mabel, but, as you know, we have come to Northbury to retrench." She was silent again for a minute.

Then she said: "I see nothing for it but to cultivate the Meadowsweets." "Mother!" said Catherine.

The old fire and anger had come into her voice.

Unusual as it may be with any girl brought up in such a worldly manner, Catherine hated to take advantage of people.
"You mistake me, Kate," said her mother, shrinking back from her daughter's eyes, as if she had received a blow.

"I want you to have the pleasure of Beatrice Meadowsweet's friendship." "Oh, yes," replied Catherine, relieved.
"And," continued the mother, her voice growing firm and her dark eyes meeting her daughter's fully, "I don't mean to be out in the cold, so I shall make a friend of Mrs.Meadowsweet." Mabel burst into a merry girlish laugh.