"Well, Una, I don't know what is to be done. I haven't an idea how long my lady means to leave us here, and stay at the Fitzpatricks'. I've got exactly seven and sixpence left, and if mother sends us more money--she must, of course, before we go away--heaven knows where she will get it from. You must wear my grey hat and jacket to-morrow, and your own red skirt." "And you?" "I'll do with the brown tweed. Who is there to see that matters?" "How I hate this house!" said Una, dropping into a straw chair by the window, and stretching her arms above her head. "I don't think its as bad as the Fitzpatricks'." "Perhaps not, when the card-playing set is there, but it's more rowdy. I never did see the fun of chasing men up and down stairs, and setting booby-traps in their bedrooms." "Nothing would ever induce me to do such a thing," said Amethyst scornfully. "You have only to choose what you will do. They'll all come after you for the sake of saying afterwards they've been in with you. But--I shall never be a good girl, Amethyst. I can't keep out of the fray. I want them to talk to me, and I know how to make them. Then one gets led on. No, I don't bear-fight and romp; but oh, Amethyst, I talk--I say such horrid things--just things that make people stare and wonder if I _can_ mean it. Oh, how I hate men!" stamping her foot. "They _delight_ in making girls sail near the wind, and then, how they talk of us! That's what Tony used to make me do when I was little. How he used to laugh! And the books," went on Una, after a pause. "When do we ever see one, French or English, that you'd like Sylvester Riddell, or any nice man, to see you read? Oh, if men in general liked girls to be decent, how easy goodness would be!" "Well," said Amethyst, "if we are to be good, it certainly won't be because we don't hear of wickedness, either in books or in real life. But I wouldn't say what I was ashamed of, to please any one. And I'm sure, darling, you hardly ever do." "You're a sweet comforter," said Una, kissing her. "My dear old mother-confessor! But really I sometimes hear things that make me think that my lady brought us up in a pattern way. Well, I believe Mr and Mrs Jackson are pattern people, so let us hope the hunt-breakfast will be highly proper too. Half an hour before lunch. I'll do some sewing." "You are a pattern girl about your East End work, at any rate." "Oh, but, Amethyst, I like to hear from Miss Waterhouse about the girls. I do feel as if I exactly understood how hard it is for them to be good, when they want so to be _bad_, you see, and know just how; and how getting fond of her is such a help to them. And she tells them that I care when she gives them the things I make. If I only worked better!"