I shall soon," she said.

"Of course," said Alton gravely. "Now how long have you been looking
for it?"

"A month," said the girl without reflection, and Alton nodded as though
in answer to some question he had put to himself.

"And when you went into that place this morning there was nothing
again?" he said.

"No," said Miss Townshead, with a trace of despondency she could not
quite conceal. "There was a post vacant, but it had some trust
attached to it, and nobody knows me."

Now while he talked Alton's eyes had been busy, and he had noticed a
curious weariness which he had not seen before in his companion's face.
Her fingers, which had grown white, were also very slender, and the
well-worn dress, which he remembered, did not seem to hang about her as
it had done. Her eyes, however, were brighter, and now and then a
little florid colour flushed her cheeks, but that did not please him,
for Alton had seen not a little of want and hunger in the snows of the
North.

"You mean they want security?" said he.

"Yes," said Miss Townshead hastily. "Still, one of the girls I met at
the school told me there was somebody wanted at a big dry goods store,
and I think I had better go round and see the people now."

Alton rose, and when they went out together gravely held out his hand.
"We used to be good friends, and you were kind to me," said he. "Now
is there nothing that I can do?"

"No," said Miss Townshead hastily. "Of course there is nothing, and
you will hear that I am prospering presently."

Alton bent a trifle over the little hand in the shabby glove that
rested a moment in his palm. "Well, if ever there is anything you will
let me know. You are a brave girl," said he.

Nellie Townshead turned and left him, feeling for no apparent reason a
slight choking sensation, and Alton, who watched the little figure in
the threadbare dress for at least a minute, strode resolutely back to
the commercial school.

"I want to see the man who runs this place," he said.

He was shown into an office, where a man, whose face he was pleased
with, greeted him. "You taught Miss Townshead here?" he said.

"Yes," said the other. "She is a lady of considerable ability, and I
could recommend her with confidence."

Alton stared at him a moment out of half-closed eyes. "Of course you
would," he said. "Well now, she has been applying for some place where
they want security. Is it fit for a lady?"

"Yes," said the man d