Miss Mary Martha Crawford by Yelena Kopylova

the family. I think Mastgy u , A should be advised of the
    situation. Could he pos^j ^ home for a time? "
    "I... I don't think so, unless the matter was very y , " Well, as I see it, this matter is very urgent. but ^ . " ,rf up to you; the burden seems to have fallen on yoy- r i/ ders. But you know my advice, sell the chandlei'g , ,^r doing so you will clear the mortgage, and if the Sa]g j , pit ious then there might be a little over to pay ^ y.y p ^
    some of the debts and help you along for the , f months. Anyway--' he again rose to his feet 'it is foy Master Roland, to make the final
    decision. And--' og ^ he was holding her hand 'with regard to your tat hp ri- this unfortunate business, try not to let it worry ^ ^ much.
    These things happen; unfortunately they ^onp i<. the time, but I can well understand what a shock tl" , i / , "ie revels at ion has been to you.
    She wetted her lips twice before she asked, "Doyg " ,; many people are aware of, of the matter, I mi^, . x. town? " He veiled his eyes for a moment, then said, " Wel -f. but say truthfully there was some
    interest as to wiy ip u the hatter's and his share in the glove
    factory, but hq. ,. ,1why he got rid of the mill, and having done so s11| j-j : settle his debts in the town. There were, I s^ r . " , rumours and guesses; but I don't think anything; came to light."
    There was a pause before she said, "Thank yoi fg . help, Mr. Paine, I am very grateful. I will do as y^ sup-o-py- : and ... and think the
    matter over with regard to, o evniain ing the situation to Roland, and I will call again if[ y,- " Anytime, anytime at all. Miss Crawford. "
    He tened &t> : door and himself led her across the outer office aid siioArt her into the corridor.
    In the street once again, she stood for a momeit looli towards the
    Abbey. She had in her mind arrange to; the bookshop and see Lawrence, as she secretly
    Mr. Paine rose and came round the desk and, taking her hand, said.
    There, there. There, there. Don't upset yourself, my dear. " He was right. She mustn't distress herself. She mustn't give way to tears,
    at least not here; she must wait until she reached home. And not even then, not in front of the others.
    What would she tell the others? That would have to wait. Mr. Paine
    had just said they could keep their home.
    She looked up at him, her eyes blinking away the burning sensation
    under her lids as she said, "I'll ... I'll do anything that you suggest, Mr. Paine, as long as we can keep The Habitation."
    "Yes, yes." He patted her hand; then nodded at her, walked round the desk again, sat down, took up his pen once more and studied it before saying, "I'm sure there's no way you can cut down on household
    expenses, but you could economize just the smallest bit by letting one of your sisters take up a position in the bookshop. How much do you
    pay the female who is already there ?"
    How strange he should make the same suggestion as Roland. It seemed
    inevitable that Mildred should work in the shop. She said on a sigh,
    "Five shillings a week."
    "Well, well." He looked to the side, arranged some loose sheets of paper on his desk and tapped the pen once more on the inkwell before he continued, "Five shillings is five shillings. And " then there's the manager. Ducat, isn't it? Yes, yes, I know the gentleman. " He
    nodded his head.
    "Very well read man from what I gather from our conversations in the shop. Of course, there's no possibility of dispensing with his
    services.... What is his wage?"
    "Fourteen shillings a week."
    "H'm! him! Fourteen shillings. That doesn't allow for a reduction, not when everyone is crying out to have their wages raised." He nodded towards her now and added in a conversational tone.
    "They all tell you that prices have risen over the past year as if the rise in prices didn't affect oneself. Oh, I have my own experience of this." He glanced towards the door and the outer office, then said,
    "Well now, what you
    have to do, my dear Miss Crawford, is to go