He also said that there was some of that hateful stock
remaining that ruined your father, but that it was of uncertain value,
and he could not tell how much it would realize, but he would sell it
and place the proceeds also to our credit. It will amount to
considerable, I think, and it may rise.
"Now, girls," continued Mrs. Allen, settling herself back among the
cushions, and resting the forefinger of her right hand impressively on
the palm of the left, "this is the proper line of policy for us to
pursue. I hope in all these strange changes I am still mistress of my
own family. You certainly don't think that I expect to stay in this
miserable hovel all my life. If you two girls, Laura and Edith, had
made the matches you might, we should still be living on the avenue.
But I certainly cannot permit you now to spoil every chance of getting
out of this slough. You may not be able to do as well as you could
have done, but if you are once called working-girls, what can you do?
"In the first place we must go into the best society of this town. Our
position warrants it of course. Therefore, for heaven's sake don't let
it get abroad that we are associating with these drunken Laceys.
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