ou, my dear. Perfectly sweet! I'm awfully grateful, but
it's absolutely impossible that I could accept. When could I pay you
back? I've never been able to save, but I _have_ kept out of debt, and
it would worry me to death to have ten pounds hanging round my neck.
Besides, we shouldn't be any further. At the end of the six weeks I
should either be better, in which case he would certainly want me to go
on; or worse, when I should have to try something else! You don't
propose that I should go on borrowing from you at the rate of one or two
guineas a week?"

"I--I'm afraid I haven't got it to give."

"Very well, then--there you are! What's the good of beginning at all?"

Claire put her hands over her face and thought with that intense and
selfless thought which is as a prayer for help. The future seemed dark
indeed, and the feeling of helplessness was hard to bear. Two lonely
girls, with no one to help, and so much help that was needed! Here was
indeed the time for prayer.

"Sophie, it's horribly difficult; we can't see ahead. We can only `do
the next thing.' It is your duty to take this cure _now_, and the way
has opened for that. When we've come to the end of the six weeks, it
may open again. You said you have trust in God. It's no use talking
generalities, if you are not prepared to put your faith into practice.
The question for to-day is, _Can you trust Him for the beginning of
May_?"

Sophie smiled.

"I like that! That's a nice way of putting it. Yes, I can; but, Claire
(I must call you Claire, you are such a dear!), I wish it didn't mean
borrowing other people's money! It will be years before I can pay you
back. It may be that I can never do it."

"I would have said `give,' but I was afraid it would hurt your pride.
My stepfather gave me some money to buy jewellery for a wedding present,
and as a pure matter of selfishness I'd get more pleasure out of helping
you than out of a stupid brooch. And listen, Sophie, listen! I'm going
to explain.--I chose to take up teaching because I wanted to be
independent, and I knew my mother would be happier without me during the
first years of her marriage; but she is devoted to me, and I know in
time she will crave to have me back. She isn't strong, and she finds
the Indian climate trying, so very likely she may _need_ my help. I
shall never be sorry that I came to London, for work is a splendid
experience, and I am glad to have it; but I have never t