Page:Neith Boyce--The bond.djvu/400

398 "Hard up," said Basil laconically.

"Oh, nonsense—come to town and I'll get you heaps of people to paint. Or if you've got a few thousands by you, ask Horace for a tip. He can put you on to something good, he's been making pots of money."

Basil smiled—at Teresa, and she flushed hotly over all her face. It was the first smile for ten days! It meant, she knew, only an ironic comment on that "few thousands" of Alice's—they would have felt rich with a few thousands by them. At least they still had their poverty in common! Alice noticed her flush and stared curiously at her.

"Flirting across the table," she said. "I always say you are the most domestic people I know. By the way, do you know Isabel Perry's back? She's somewhere near you here, isn't she?"

"Half a mile away," said Teresa.

"No, really! I'm coming down to stay a week-end with her next month. How jolly! You'll be there, too, perhaps—you're great chums, aren't you?"

"I haven't seen her for nearly a year."

"Oh, but you were great chums? Or was it Basil? Yes, now I think of it, it was Basil," and Alice smiled wantonly. She was not ill-natured, but she was a little excited.

Basil looked at Teresa and she saw boredom