“She may not like the place, and neither do I,” said Katherine like a flash; “if she wishes to part with it I shall certainly not oppose her. You must not speak so of my sister.” “And what shall you do, Katherine, my dear?” “I am going away,” cried Katherine; “I have always intended to go away. I have a piece of land to build a cottage on.” She made a pause, for she had never in words stated her intentions before. “Papa knew what I should like,” she said, with the rising of a sob in her throat. The sense of injury now and then overcame even her self-control. “In the meantime perhaps we may go abroad, Hannah and I; isn’t it always the right thing when you are in mourning and trouble to go abroad?” “My dear girl,” said Miss Mildmay solemnly, “how far do you think you can go abroad you and your maid--upon five hundred a year?” “Can’t we?” said Katherine, confused; “oh, yes, we have very quiet ways. I am not extravagant, I shall want no carriage or anything.” “Do you know how much a hotel costs, Katherine? You and your maid couldn’t possibly live for less than a pound a day--a pound a day means three hundred and sixty-five pounds a year--and that without a pin, without a shoe, without a bit of ribbon or a button for your clothes, still less with anything new to put on. How could you go abroad on that? It is impossible--and with the ideas you have been brought up on, everything so extravagant and ample--I can’t imagine what you can be thinking of, a practical girl like you.” “She might go to a pension, Ruth Mildmay. Pensions are much cheaper than hotels.” “I think I see Katherine in a pension! With a napkin done up in a ring to last a week, and tablecloths to match!” “Well then,” said Katherine, with a feeble laugh, “if that is so I must stay at home. Hannah and I will find a little house somewhere while my cottage is building.” “Hannah can never do all the work of a house,” said Miss Mildmay, “Hannah has been accustomed to her ease as well as you. You would need at least a good maid of all work who could cook, besides Hannah; and then there are rent and taxes, and hundreds of things that you never calculate upon. You could not live, my dear, even in a cottage with two maids, on five hundred a year.” “I think I had better not live at all!” cried Katherine, “if that is how it is; and yet there must be a great many people who manage very well on less than I have. Why, there are families who live on a pound a week!” “But not, my dear, with a lady’s maid and another,” Miss Mildmay said.