y had been accustomed to consider the ordinary comforts--not
to say the luxuries and refinements of their home--the girls were
informed that they were not to go back to Miss Burridge's, where their
quarters were paid in advance. The younger brothers might continue at
the Grammar School, because the fees were low; they would be kept out of
harm, and they could do nothing else to speak of. But Ella and Phyllis
had better lose no time in learning to make beds, sweep floors, and lay
tables. "For myself, I have your father to see to," said Mrs. Carey in
her somewhat deep and strong voice, the measured steadiness of which had
acquired a ringing vibration. "I do not mean to conceal from you that
Dr. Millar is apprehensive on your father's account, and I intend to
devote myself to him. We must pull him through and save him at any cost,
though his health and nerves may be shattered from this date, and he may
never be able to retrieve his losses and those of other people, which,
of course, press most heavily upon him. We can try at least for the
credit as well as the life which is so dear to us, and never have it
said for his sake, still more than for ours, that he was blind and
imposed upon, and then let himself slip out of the misery which he had
helped to bring about, while others who were not accountable were
condemned to pay the penalty."

Mrs. Carey would fain not have touched a farthing of the income allowed
the family till the bank's affairs were wound up--that winding-up which
Dr. Millar said might last throughout his life. She would willingly
have resigned the bulk of her small fortune in favour of the bank's
creditors, but marriage settlements and trustees are stubborn facts to
deal with. All she could do was to stint and punish herself and her
family in the manner described, and inasmuch as the stinting and
punishment were done in good faith, doubtless they would serve their
purpose and have their reward.

The Rector was a widower. Hitherto he had kept an efficient housekeeper
and chaperon for his daughters, the elder of whom must now take the
housekeeper's place. He, too, put down what had served him for a
carriage. It was remarkable how uniformly the first idea of retrenchment
took this form in Redcross, but it was natural under the circumstances.
It was difficult to say at once what was to be cut down from a not very
extensive list of supernumeraries, unless one was prepared to make a
clean sweep like Mrs. Carey.