That is _her_ chat, you understand, not
mine. We are not obliged to swallow all that; but, turn it how you will,
here are learning, genius, and virtue starving. We must get her to accept
a little money; that means, in her case, a little fire and food. Zoe,
shall that woman go to bed hungry to-night?"
"No, never!" said Zoe, warmly. "'Let me think. Offer her a _loan."_
"Well done; that is a good idea. Will _you_ undertake it? She will be far
more likely to accept. She is a bit of a prude and all, is my virago."
"Yes, dear, she will. Order the carriage. She shall not go to bed
hungry-- nobody shall that you are interested in."
"Oh, after dinner will do."
Dinner was ordered immediately, and the brougham an hour after.
At dinner, Vizard gave them all the outline of the Edinburgh struggle,
and the pros and cons; during which narrative his female hearers might
have been observed to get cooler and cooler, till they reached the zero
of perfect apathy. They listened in dead silence; but when Harrington had
done, Fanny said aside to Zoe, "It is all her own fault. What business
have women to set up for doctors?"
"Of course not," said Zoe; "only we must not say so.
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