own to give one of his rare kisses.

Laura, going back to the other room, drew the girl down beside her.
"Now, child," she said, her voice full of tenderest persuasion, "let us
talk over your problems and find the way out."

For a moment the old proud reserve held the girl, but it melted under
the tender sympathy in the eyes looking into hers. She drew a long
breath. "It seems somehow wrong to talk about it even to you," she said.
"Sonia is my sister."

"I know, dear, but sisters are not always--sisters," Laura replied, "and
you are very much alone in the world. I am more truly your sister--am I
not, Olga--your elder sister who loves you and wants to help?"

"O yes, yes!" the girl cried. "But I've felt I must not tell _any_
one--even you--and I've crowded it all down in my heart until----"

"Until you are worn out with the strain of it all," Laura said as Olga
paused. "Now tell me the whole just as if I were your sister in very
fact."

And Olga told it all, from Sonia's unexpected arrival that September
night to the present--of the failure of her efforts to get her sister to
do some kind of work, and of Sonia's constant demands for money and
clothes.

"Do you think she has really tried to get a place in a store, Olga?"

"I don't know. She says she has, but I can't feel that she really wants
to do anything, or that she will ever find a place as long as I let her
stay on with me. Of course I could support her, though it would not be
easy, for she is hard on clothes. She doesn't take care of them and she
wears them out much faster than I do. She has almost worn out my best
shoes already, and my gloves, as well as my hat and suit, and she uses
my handkerchiefs and--and everything, just as if they were her own. I
can't earn enough to clothe her and keep myself decent." She glanced
down at the old serge skirt she wore. "Miss Laura, tell me--what shall I
do? Would it be right for me to leave her? The continual fret and worry
of it all are wearing me out."

"I know it, dear--that is why I felt you must come and talk it all over
with me."

Olga went on, "It isn't only a matter of money--and clothes, but I have
_nothing_ left. If I go out evenings--even across to Lizette's room--she
wants to go too, or else she goes off somewhere as soon as I am out of
sight, and leaves the baby shut up all alone. That's why I can't go
anywhere--not even to the Camp Fire meetings. And, O Miss Laura, I was
so happy when I came back fro