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residential schools of a higher grade. Miss Farnborough's mistresses
were women trained at the various universities; the school itself was
situated in a fashionable neighbourhood, and its pupils were for the
most part daughters of professional men, and gentlefolk of moderate
incomes. There was no pension scheme, and mistresses had to live out,
but with care and economy they could take out some insurance to provide
for old age.

Claire took little interest in her own old age, which seemed too far
away to count, but she was intensely interested in the immediate future,
and had been hurt and annoyed when her mother had waved aside the
proposal as unworthy of serious consideration. And now, only three
months after Miss Farnborough's departure, the crisis had arisen, and
that hundred and ten pounds assumed a vastly increased value. Supposing
that the post was accepted, and mother and daughter started life in
London with a capital of between two and three hundred pounds, and a
salary of one hundred and ten, as regular income--how long would the
nest-egg last out?

Judging from the experience of past years, a very short time indeed, and
what would happen after that? Claire had read gruesome tales of the
struggles of women in like positions, overtaken by illness, losing the
salaries which represented their all, brought face to face with actual
starvation, and in the midst of the midsummer heat, little shivers of
fear trickled up and down her spine as she realised how easily she and
her mother might drift into a like position.

Then, on the other hand, Bombay! Indian houses were large; mother could
have her own rooms. In the hot weather they would go together to the
hills, leaving Mr Judge behind. How long did the hot season last, four
or five months? Nearly half the year, perhaps. It would be only half
as bad as marrying a man for money in Europe, for you would get rid of
him all that time! Claire shrugged her shoulders and laughed, and two
minutes later whisked away a tear, dedicated to the memory of girlish
dreams. Useless to dream any longer, she was awake now, and must face
life in a sensible manner. Her duty was to marry Robert Judge, and to
make a home for her mother.

Another girl might have cherished anger against the recklessness which
had landed her in such a trap, but after the first shock of discovery
there had been no resentment in Claire's heart. She implicitly believed
her mother's assurance