One or two
articles yet remained capable of being turned into small sums, and
these she now disposed of at a neighbouring pawnbroker's--the same
she had previously visited on the occasion of pawning one or two of
the things, the tickets for which Harriet Casti had so carefully
inspected. She spoke to no one of her position. Yet now the time was
quickly coming when she must either have help from some quarter or
else give up her lodgings. In food she was already stinting herself
to the verge of starvation. And through all this she had to meet her
friends as hitherto, if possible without allowing any trace of her
suffering to become visible. Harriet, strange to say, had been of
late a rather frequent visitor, and was more pressing than formerly
in her invitations. Ida dreaded her coming, as it involved the
unwarrantable expense of obtaining luxuries now unknown in her
cupboard, such as tea and butter. And, on the other hand, it was
almost impossible to affect cheerfulness in the company of the
Castis. At times she caught Julian's eyes fixed upon her, and felt
that he noticed some change in her appearance. She had a sense of
guilt in their presence, as if she were there on false pretences.
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