"Madame Lupton sails on Saturday," she said. "Oh how splendid it must be
to go to Paris! Mrs. Cairns is to finish up; there is only a little to
do, but Madame said everything you did was so neat, so well finished
that she should be very glad to have you by the first of October."

The mother sighed. "Meanwhile there is almost two months to provide for,
and I had to break in the last hundred dollars to pay the rent. Oh
Lilian! I hardly know which way to turn. I am not strong any more, I
have made every effort to--" and her voice broke, "but I am afraid you
will have to give up school."

She buried her face in her hands and sobbed.

"Oh, mother, don't! don't!" the girl implored. "I suppose it was
selfish of me to think of such a thing and you couldn't go through two
years more. You are not as well as you were a year ago. I'll see Sally
Meeks tonight and take the place in the factory. I only have to give two
weeks and then begin on five dollars a week. It will be better than the
sewing."

Lilian Boyd stood up very straight and determined, though her heart sank
within her. To give up her cherished wish, to join the great army of
shop girls with no hope of advancement in the future! She was almost
sixteen; she had been two years in the High School and was a favorite
scholar. Two years more and she could teach. It was in the walk of life
that she so ardently desired. Tall for her age, vigorous, with courage
and earnestness in every line of the face that was fine, now, to the
casual observer and might develop into beauty. It was spirited, eager,
with a clear complexion, deep blue eyes that in some moods seemed black,
while the hair was light and abundant. The brows and lashes were much
darker. The features were regular, the chin broad and cleft, but it was
the courage and uplift in the face that gave it character.

The mother was so different. It was not altogether a weak face but
intensely commonplace; the sort of woman who has no ambitions beyond the
ordinary round of life. Was it the old story of the eagle in the dove's
nest?

"You are very tired," she began, presently. "Lie down on the lounge
while I get supper."

Mrs. Boyd was still crying softly. Lilian kissed her, threw a light
shawl over her shoulders, then lighted the gas burner and set on the
kettle. She would run out and get a chop for her mother, some for
breakfast as well. Yes, she must begin to be the care taker, she had
been so engrossed with her studies