Laura and the girls at arm's length. They were all friends, even Lena
Barton and Eva Bicknell, whom until now she had regarded with scornful
indifference, and Sadie Page, whom she had barely tolerated for
Elizabeth's sake--even these she counted now as friends; and Laura,
noting the growing comradeship--seeing week by week the strengthening of
the bond between the girls, said to herself, joyfully,

"It was in Olga's heart that the fire of love burst into flame, and it
has leaped from heart to heart until now I believe in all my girls it is
burning--'The love of man to man--the love of man to God.'"

XV

AN OPEN DOOR FOR ELIZABETH

Sadie Page burst tumultuously into Olga's room one afternoon and hardly
waited to get inside the door before she cried out, "I've thought of
something Elizabeth can do--something splendid."

"Well," said Olga drily, "if it is something splendid for Elizabeth,
I'll excuse you for coming in without knocking."

"All right, please excuse me, I forgot," Sadie responded with unusual
good nature, "I was in such a hurry to tell you. It's a way Elizabeth
can earn money at home----Now, Olga Priest, I think you're real mean to
look so!" she ended with a scowl.

"Look how?" Olga laughed.

"You know. As if--as if I was just thinking of keeping Elizabeth at
home."

"But weren't you?"

"No, I _wasn't_!" Sadie retorted. "At any rate--I was thinking of
Elizabeth too. I was, honest, Olga."

"Well, tell me," said Olga.

"Why, you know those Christmas cakes she made?"

"Yes."

"Well, she can make them and other kinds to sell in one of the big
groceries. I saw some homemade cakes in Council's to-day that didn't
look half as nice as Elizabeth's and they charged a lot for them."

Olga nodded thoughtfully. "I shouldn't wonder if you'd hit upon a good
plan, Sadie. But if she does that, you'll have to help her with the work
at home, for she has all she can do now."

Sadie scowled. She hated housework. "Guess I have plenty to do myself,"
she grumbled, "with school and my silver work and all."

"But your silver work is just for yourself," Olga reminded her, "and
Elizabeth has no time to do anything for herself."

"Well, anyhow, if she makes lots of cakes she'll have money for
herself."

"And she's got to have money for herself," Olga said decidedly. "I've
been thinking about that." Sadie wriggled uneasily. She had been
thinking about it too, and that Elizabeth would be eighteen soon, and