he couldn't give me a lift. I said he certainly
could but for the fact that I was already arrived at my destination.
Then he said, "I'll give you a hand with the plunder, then. Which
house?"--and THE MAIDEN'S DREAM and the liver and I mounted Mrs.
Mussel's steps together. He was as big and bonny as the impossible
young persons in the backs of magazines, and he said it was tough
weather to be walking and I said it was tough weather to be out of a
job, and he said that was tough luck. (See how I gave him an opening,
E.E.?) I thanked him and he said it was nothing and sped down to his
speedster and I went in to my Christian room. Mrs. Mussel had been
doing her regular Sister Anne act at the window and had "seen it
all," she assured me ... I will omit her Phillipic....

JANE.

_Wednesday._

Still no gainful occupation, people! Compared to her present
attitude, Mrs. Mussel was Jest and Youthful Jollity before. And the
blacker things get the earlier we rise. It seems to me that no sooner
have I fitted myself compactly into my doll's-size bed and closed my
eyes than I hear her mournful summons to another day. Oh, the inky
gloom of these murky mornings! I know that the young woman who said
so lyrically, "_If you're waking, call me early, call me early,
Mother dear!_" is popularly supposed to have died without issue,
but that is a misconception. I shrink from putting a Spoon River
scandal on her mossy tombstone, but my Mrs. Mussel is her lineal
descendant.

To-day I was racked by a yearning for the flesh-pots. I made myself
as near smart as possible and flew for the smartest tea-room on
Michigan Avenue. If I could stay me with Orange Pekoe and comfort me
with toasted crumpets and English marmalade--But just as I was
blithely footing it across the threshold the S.F. rose up behind me
like a genie from a bottle and plucked me back.

"Edna Miles," she gasped, "my poor child, you can't eat in there!
It's the most expensive place in the city. Besides,--it is half-past
four,--you'll spoil your dinner!"

_Very_ peevishly and hollowly,

JANE.

_Thursday Night. On the Joyful New Job._

Oh, my dear people, but I do believe in Fairies! I've met one
personally! While we sat at melancholy mending this morning, my
doleful landlady and I, after my fruitless tour of the agenci