"O Cicely, this is pride, the same sort of pride that prevented your poor papa from asking for anything----"
"Hush, Aunt Jane! Whatever he did was right; but I am not like papa. I don't mind asking so long as it is for work. I have an idea now. Poor Mrs. Jones! I am very very sorry for her, leaving her children desolate. But some one will have to come in her place. Why should it not be me? There is a little house quite comfortable and pleasant where I could have the children; and I think the parish would not refuse me, if it was only for papa's sake."
"Cicely! my dear child, of what are you thinking?" said Miss Maydew, in dismay. "A parish schoolmistress! you are dreaming. All this has been too much for you. My dear, my dear, you must never think of such a thing again!"
"O Cicely, it is not a place for a lady, surely," cried Mab.
"Look here," said Cicely, the colour mounting to her face. "I'd take in washing if it was necessary, and if I knew how. A lady! there's nothing about ladies that I know of in the Bible. Whatever a woman can do I'm ready to try, and I don't care, not the worth of a pin, whether it's a place for a lady or not. O Aunt Jane, I beg your pardon. I know how good you are--but charity! I can't bear the thought of charity. I must try my own way."
"Cicely, listen to me," cried Aunt Jane, with tears. "I held back, for the children are not my flesh and blood as you are. Perhaps it was mean of me to hold back. O Cicely, I wanted to save what I had for you; but, my dear, if it comes to that, better, far better, that you should bring them to London. I don't say I'm fond of children," said Miss Maydew; "it's so long since I had anything to do with them. I don't say but what they'd worry me sometimes; but bring them, Cicely, and we'll do what we can to get on, and when you find a situation, I'll--I'll--try----"
Her voice sank into quavering hesitation, a sob interrupted her. She was ready to do almost all they wanted of her, but this was hard; still, sooner than sacrifice her niece's gentility, the standing of the family--Cicely had good sense enough to perceive that enough had been said. She kissed her aunt heartily with tender thanks, but she did not accept her offer or say anything further about her own plans. For the moment nothing could be done, whatever the decision might be.