The Fortunes of the Farrells | Page 5

am so nice!" contradicted Mollie. And
then they looked at each other, and each made a little grimace,
supposed to express scorn and contempt, but in reality there was so

complete an understanding beneath the pretence that it was almost as
expressive as a caress.
After this came a few minutes' silence, while the two needles were
woven diligently to and fro; then--
"Mollie!" said Ruth suddenly, "I've come to a decision. I've been
thinking it over for ages, so don't imagine it's a whim, or that I don't
mean what I say. It's time that one of us turned out and earned some
money on our own account, and, as I'm the eldest, I'm the one to go.
Business gets worse and worse, and expenses increase, and must go on
increasing, as the children grow up. Trix will be sixteen in summer; in
less than two years she will leave school, and three grown-up daughters
are not needed in any house when the mother is well and strong. I once
thought of waiting until then; but I am twenty-two now, and, if I am to
do any good, there is no time to waste. You could get along without me
even now."
The half-darned sock fell on Mollie's knee, and for once the sunny face
looked thoroughly shocked and startled.
"I couldn't--I couldn't! None of us could! What would happen if
everything depended on me? You remind me, and keep me up to the
mark, and help me out of scrapes. I should be at my wit's end without
you. Mother consults you about everything, and the girls obey you, and
the boys pay more attention to you than they do to anyone else. Ruth,
everybody needs you?"
"They love you best," Ruth said quietly. And the dark brows wrinkled
in wistful fashion.
It was the truth that she was speaking, no empty striving for
compliments; but why was it the truth? She worked hard; Mollie idled.
She was conscientious, self-sacrificing, and methodical; Mollie knew
not the meaning of method, and was frankly selfish on occasions. She
worried herself ill about ways and means, and kept sedulously within
the bounds of her small allowance; Mollie took no heed for the morrow,
and was in a chronic condition of penury or debt.

Despite these striking contrasts, the fact remained, however, that if any
member of the household were ill, or had a secret to confide, or a
favour to request, they betook themselves to the heedless Mollie, rather
than to herself. Dearly as she loved her sister, Ruth felt a little rankling
of soreness mingling with her mystification. She did not yet realise the
magic power which cheerfulness wields in this world, or the charm of a
sunny face and a ready rippling laugh. Hearts turn to the sun as
instinctively as plants, and forgive much for the sake of the warmth and
glow.
"They love you best," said Ruth, and honest Mollie did not contradict,
but stretched out her hand, and laid it caressingly on her sister's arm.
"But I love you, and I can't do without you, Ruth! I couldn't live alone,
for you and I belong to each other. The others are dears in their way;
but they are only `steps,' and we two seem so close together. Imagine
Attica without you! Imagine going to bed alone, with no one to talk to
about the events of the day! What does the horrid old money matter?
We always have been poor, and we always shall be. As long as I can
remember mother has been in despair about the bills; but we wriggle
through somehow, and we shall go on wriggling. It's horrid of you to
talk of going away! Think of me!"
"That's selfish, Mollie. You are the last person I ought to think of just
now. Mother comes first, and the poor old pater, and all those children.
It comes to this, that I can't stand the present state of affairs any longer.
I feel ashamed of taking even the pittance we have; and I'm tired of the
pittance, too, and want to make money for myself, and not have to
think a dozen times over before spending a penny!"
Mollie laughed--a pert, derisive little laugh.
"Sounds well, my dear; but, if it comes to that, what can you do? You
can't teach, for you are not accomplished enough for advanced pupils,
nor patient enough for children. Do you remember trying to teach
Drummond to read, and rapping his poor little knuckles till they were
blue? Besides, talking of pittances, you'd get less than nothing if you
did try it. I don't see what you could do to earn a living."

"I could be a hospital nurse!"
"Perhaps you might--a bad one--for you don't like nursing, and would