all the bustle of life going on below, and made little complaint of the
noise at first. The five children thought there was nothing so charming
as running up and down the common stair, and were quite proud of their
elevated position in the world; but the Misses Melville could not but
feel an immense difference between their own ideas of comfort and those
of the humble family with whom they lived. The floors were clean, and
the stairs, too, after a fashion; but the coarse dark-coloured boards
could not be made to look white. The walls which Peggy's own hands had
sized of a dark-brown colour looked rough, and cracked, and gloomy.
They were aware that their scanty means did not allow them to indulge
in any separate meals or attendance, and Jane and Elsie began as they
meant to go on, and shared the homely meals in the homely home. They
had never thought that they had any luxurious tastes; but the very
plain fare and the inelegant service seemed to take away even the
natural healthy appetite of youth. The noise of the children, and the
querulous voice of their grandfather, with Peggy's sharp, decisive
remarks, were all different from the respectful silence with which they
had been attended at Cross Hall. Peggy was anxious to make the girls as
happy as she could, and feared that they must feel this a downcome; but
her hands were full of work, and her head of cares. She had made her
venture in the world, too, and, with so many dependent on her, it was a
considerable risk. They could not help admiring the wonderful patience
which she had with the old man, who was not her own father, but merely
the father-in-law of her dead sister. She allowed him a weekly modicum
of snuff, and was particular that Tom, or one of the others, should
read the Bible or the news to him in a clear, distinct voice, that the
old man might be able to hear all of it. In all little things she gave
way to him, but in all great and grave matters she judged and acted for
herself, whatever grumbling might follow. Over the children she kept a
very careful watch; and even when she was absent on necessary business,
her influence was felt in the household.

After the first day was over, and the girls had gone to their own room
for the evening, Elsie broke out with----

"Jane, this is dreadful! How different from what I imagined poor
people's lives to be! Nothing beautiful or graceful about it. Poets and
novelists write such fine things about poverty and honest to