with
wonderful descriptions of her mistress's cleverness and Miss Baby's
ways.

Martha had eleven brothers and sisters, and the house in Somers Row was
not a luxurious abode. Her mother took in washing, and eleven brothers
and sisters of all ages, and of every variety of snub-nose, made any
sort of privacy impossible. Nevertheless, on her previous holiday, as
Martha, or Patty, as they called her at home, sat in her best blue
merino frock, with her youngest sister on her lap and a paper-bag of
sugar-sticks for distribution to the family, there were few happier
girls to be found anywhere.

"And I have brought you half-a-pound of really good tea, mother,"
observed Martha, proudly. "I knew what a treat that would be to you
and father."

"You are a good girl, Patty," returned her mother, winking away the
moisture in her eyes, as she went on with her ironing. "Amabel, don't
you be trampling on Patty's best dress, there's a good little lass.
Well, as I was saying, Patty, only the children do interrupt so.
There, Joe and Ben, just take your sugar-sticks and be off to play. I
think I have found a nice little place for Susan. She is to sleep at
home, but will have all her meals and half-a-crown a week, and the lady
will teach her everything; that is pretty fair for a beginning, and as
father says, the money will just find her in shoe-leather and aprons.
Father's looking out for a place for Joe now."

"I wish Susan could have a place like mine, mother," returned Martha,
proudly. "They are real gentlefolks, that is what they are. 'Will you
be so good as to clean my boots, Martha?' or 'Thank you, Martha,' when
I dry the paper of a morning. Oh, it is like play living at the corner
house, and as for that darling Miss Baby----" but here words failed
Martha.

It could not be denied that Olivia was unusually depressed that
afternoon, fog and damp always had this effect on her. Her nature
needed sunshine and crisp, bracing air.

There was no buoyancy and elasticity in her tread. When people looked
at her, as they often did, for her pliant, slim figure rather attracted
notice, she thought they were only commenting on her old black hat and
jacket. Only one article of her dress satisfied her; her boots were
neat and strong. Marcus had found her one wet day warming her feet at
the fire and had gone off to examine her boots without a word. Olivia
had flushed up and looked uncomfortable when he came back with the
boots i