'
'And you propose that we shall live on twenty-five shillings a
week?'
'Oh no! I shall be engaged only three mornings in the week and
three evenings. In my free time I shall do literary work, and no
doubt I can earn fifty pounds a year by it--if I have your
sympathy to help me. To-morrow I shall go and look for rooms some
distance from here; in Islington, I think. We have been living
far beyond our means; that must come to an end. We'll have no
more keeping up of sham appearances. If I can make my way in
literature, well and good; in that case our position and
prospects will of course change. But for the present we are poor
people, and must live in a poor way. If our friends like to come
and see us, they must put aside all snobbishness, and take us as
we are. If they prefer not to come, there'll be an excuse in our
remoteness.'
Amy was stroking the back of her hand. After a long silence, she
said in a very quiet, but very resolute tone:
'I shall not consent to this.'
'In that case, Amy, I must do without your consent. The rooms
will be taken, and our furniture transferred to them.
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