"I hope we may be able to live together as you hoped, eventually; but
in the meantime we must both put our shoulders to the wheel."

"Have we no friends who would give us a home--at least for a while,
till we get accustomed to the thought of hard work?" said Elsie.

"We have no relations, and we have made but few friends. I fear no one
would come forward to help us now that we need help so much. It is a
pity that my uncle kept us so much to himself, and that we were so
fully occupied with our own home duties that we had little or no time
for society. Now we have no capital for a start, and no friends to help
us on, only our talents and our education--a small stock-in-trade, I
fear."

In the course of the afternoon the man-servant, James, announced that
Mr. Dalzell was below, and that he sent his compliments and wished to
know how the young ladies were.

It was not the first visit since Mr. Hogarth's death. He had paid a
visit of condolence on the following day, and had never been so
affectionate or impressive in his manner to Jane as on that occasion.

"Show Mr. Dalzell upstairs, James," said Jane; "I think I should like
to see him."

The man looked somewhat intelligent, and obeyed.

"I cannot see anybody--I am not fit to be seen," said Elsie, retreating
in haste from the room; "and indeed, Jane, I wonder at you wishing to
see him so soon after this dreadful news."

"He has been at the funeral, I suppose. It is very proper of him to
inquire for us, and very imperative that we should understand each
other;--the sooner the better. But do not stay if you do not like. I
should prefer to see him alone."

Mr. Dalzell was shown into the darkened drawing-room, where he was some
time in discovering that Miss Melville was alone. A few of the kind
commonplaces which had been so successful on his previous
visit--remarks on the loss she had sustained, on the excellent
character of her deceased uncle, and on the necessity of bearing the
blow with fortitude, which her strong mind was quite capable of--were
made by Mr. Dalzell in unconsciousness that they fell very differently
on Jane's ears now. Jane asked for his mother, and heard that she was
very well, and sent her kindest regards and condolences, and hoped that
the Misses Melville would be able to see her on the following day.

"Were there many people at the funeral?" asked Jane.

"Oh yes, a great man; Mr. Hogarth was so extensively known, and so much
respected."