Rose picked up the sheet. 'I don't see what else she could have said.
I think it's dignified--a plain statement. Why should you expect more?
You have never taken any notice of her.'
'Certainly not! And Reginald never suggested it. Of course he was
ashamed, poor boy. However, I am now going to write to her, asking if
she is in need, and enclosing a cheque. I feel some responsibility for
the child. She is half a Mallett, and the Malletts have always been
loyal to the family.'
'Yes, dear, we'll send a cheque, and--shouldn't we?--a few kind words.
She will value them.'
'She'll value the money more,' Caroline said grimly.
Here she was wrong, for the cheque was immediately returned. Mrs.
Mallett and her daughter were able to support themselves without help.
'Then we need think no more about them,' Caroline said, concealing her
annoyance, 'and I shall be able to afford a new dinner dress. Black
sequins, I thought, Sophia--and we must give a dinner for the Sales.'
'Caroline, no, you forget. We mustn't entertain for a little while.'
'Upon my word, I did forget. But it's no use pretending. It really
isn't quite like a death in the family, is it? Poor dear Reginald! I
was very fond of him, but half our friends believe he has been dead
for years. I shall wear black for three months, of course, but a
little dinner to the Sales would not be out of place. We have a duty
to the living as well as to the dead.
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