'I'm sure I have no right to say he has not, but he is a flashy slang
style of youth, and I hope the young Wards will keep out of his way.'

'What will become of them? Is there likely to be any provision for
them?'

'Not much, I should guess. Poor Ward did as we are all tempted to do
when money goes through our hands, and spent more freely than I was
ever allowed to do. Costly house, garden, greenhouses--he'd better
have stuck to old Axworthy's place in Minster Street--daughter at
that grand school, where she cost more than the whole half-dozen of
you put together.'

'She was more worth it,' said Ethel; 'her music and drawing are
first-rate. Harry was frantic about her singing last time he was at
home--one evening when Mrs. Anderson abused his good-nature and got
him to a tea-party--I began to be afraid of the consequences.'

'Pish!' said the Doctor.

'And really they kept her there to enable her to educate her
sisters,' said Ethel. 'The last time I called on poor Mrs. Ward, she
told me all about it, apologizing in the pretty way mothers do,
saying she was looking forward to Averil's coming home, but that
while she profited so much, they felt it due to her to give her every
advantage; and did not I think--with my experience--that it was all
so much for the little ones' benefit? I assured her, from my
personal experience, that ignorance is a terrible thing in
governessing one's sisters. Poor thing! And Averil had only come
home this very Easter.'