"She is about to take a somewhat old-fashioned part," continued Brenda. "I don't pretend to know the old stories as I ought to; you, sir, who are such a good Greek scholar, must have heard of the character of Helen of Troy." "Beautiful Helen!" whispered Mr Amberley, under his breath. "My sister is to take part in some tableaux which Mrs Hazlitt is presenting of Tennyson's `Dream of Fair Women.' She wants me to see it, and I am anxious to go. I think that if I leave here by an early train, I can spend the greater part of the day at Hazlitt Chase and return here soon after midnight." "That will be a late hour to ask the servants to sit up." "But if you will entrust me with a latch-key--" "No, no, my dear girl: I will sit up for you myself with pleasure. Of course you shall go." "Thank you," said Brenda: "you are more than kind." She fidgeted a little, then continued: "It will be a very gay party, and people from many parts of England will assemble there to witness the different events of the day. Tennyson's `Dream of Fair Women' is, I believe, to take the most distinguished place in the day's proceedings and, in short, sir--I want to be suitably dressed." "Of course--of course," said Mr Amberley, looking a little confused, as he always was when the subject of money was even approached. "Eh--a neat cotton, eh?" "Well, sir--it must be something rather better on this occasion; but if I might ask for my quarter's salary, I have no doubt I can manage." "My poor, dear girl! have I forgotten it? How long is it due?" "It won't be due for a fortnight, sir; but I thought, under the circumstances, that you might--I mean that you would be so kind--" "You shall have a cheque immediately. Let me see--your salary is thirty pounds a year, that means seven pounds ten a quarter. I will write you a cheque for the amount; you can cash it at the bank. Get a pretty cool-looking cotton, my dear Miss Carlton--something with rosebuds on it: you are--so like a rosebud yourself." "One minute please, sir. I cannot get the sort of dress I want at Harroway. I must go to Rocheford to make my purchase and I think it would be a good opportunity to get the girls' dresses for the seaside at the same time." "Oh dear, dear, dear!" said Mr Amberley. "Haven't they got enough dresses from last year?" "Oh, no!" said Brenda, shaking her head. "They are growing so quickly; you quite forget that." "I only know that my funds are very low and that there are a great many sick people in the parish," said the rector. "Still your children must be clothed," said Brenda, putting on a severe air. "You have taken lodgings for them at the sea, and I can't walk about with girls who are not presentable. I would rather, painful as it seems, resign my post--though of course I don't really mean to do it, but--" The rector looked really terrified.