ently little able to rise from
her wooden armchair. Molly Hewlett, in a coarse apron, and a cap far
back amid the rusty black tangles of her hair, her arms just out of the
wash-tub, was in the midst of a voluble discourse, into which the ladies
would not break.

"You see, ma'am, she was in a right good situation, but she was always
unlucky, and she had the misfortune to fall down the attic stairs with
the baby in her arms."

"The baby was not hurt," put in the invalid.

"Not it, the little toad, but 'twas saving he as ricked her back
somehow, and made her a cripple for life, as you see, ma'am; and she was
six months in the hospital, till the doctor, he say as how he couldn't
do nothing more for her, so Hewlett and me we took her in, as she is my
own sister, you see, and we couldn't let her go to the workhouse, but
she do want a little broth or a few extrys now and then, ma'am, more
than we poor folks can give her."

"My mistress is very good, and gives me a little pension," put in the
invalid, while her sister looked daggers at her, and Mrs Carbonel, in
obedience to her husband's signal, took a hasty leave.

"There now! That's the way of you, Judith," cried Molly Hewlett,
banging the door behind them. "What should you go for to tell the
ladies of that pitiful pay of yours but to spile all chance of their
helping us, nasty, mean skin-flints as they be!"

"I couldn't go for to deceive them," humbly replied Judith, meek, but
cowering under the coming storm.

"Who asked you to deceive? Only to hold your tongue for your own good,
and mine and my poor children's, that you just live upon. As if your
trumpery pay was worth your board and all the trouble I has with you
night and day, but you must come in and hinder these new folk from
coming down liberal with your Methody ways and your pride! That's it,
your pride, ma'am. Oh, I'm an unhappy woman, between you and Dan! I
am!"

Molly sank into a chair, put her apron over her face and cried, rocking
herself to and fro, while Judith, with tears in her eyes, tried gentle
consolations all in vain, till Molly remembered her washing, and rose
up, moaning and lamenting.

Meantime Mrs Carbonel and her sister were exclaiming in pity that this
was a dear good girl, though Edmund shook his head over her
surroundings.

"I wonder how to make her more comfortable," said Dora. "She seemed so
much pleased when I promised to bring her something to read."

"I am afraid those