nia gave a shudder as she
spoke.

'I almost wish,' said Alice, 'that I had accepted the place at
Plymouth.'

'Oh, my dear! Five children and not a penny of salary. It was a
shameless proposal.'

'It was, indeed,' sighed the poor governess. 'But there is so little
choice for people like myself. Certificates, and even degrees, are
asked for on every hand. With nothing but references to past employers,
what can one expect? I know it will end in my taking a place without
salary.'

'People seem to have still less need of _me_,' lamented the companion.
'I wish now that I had gone to Norwich as lady-help.'

'Dear, your health would _never_ have supported it.'

'I don't know. Possibly the more active life might do me good. It
_might_, you know, Alice.'

The other admitted this possibility with a deep sigh.

'Let us review our position,' she then exclaimed.

It was a phrase frequently on her lips, and always made her more
cheerful. Virginia also seemed to welcome it as an encouragement.

'Mine,' said the companion, 'is almost as serious as it could be. I
have only one pound left, with the exception of the dividend.'

'I have rather more than four pounds still. Now, let us think,' Alice
paused. 'Supposing we neither of us obtain employment before the end of
this year. We have to live, in that case, more than six months--you on
seven pounds, and I on ten.'

'It's impossible,' said Virginia.

'Let us see. Put it in another form. We have both to live together on
seventeen pounds. That is--' she made a computation on a piece of
paper--'that is two pounds, sixteen shillings and eightpence a
month--let us suppose this month at an end. That represents fourteen
shillings and twopence a week. Yes, we can do it!'

She laid down her pencil with an air of triumph. Her dull eyes
brightened as though she had discovered a new source of income.

'We cannot, dear,' urged Virginia in a subdued voice. 'Seven shillings
rent; that leaves only seven and twopence a week for
everything--everything.'

'We _could_ do it, dear,' persisted the other. 'If it came to the very
worst, our food need not cost more than sixpence a day--three and
sixpence a week. I do really believe, Virgie, we could support life on
less--say, on fourpence. Yes, we could dear!'

They looked fixedly at each other, like people about to stake
everything on their courage.

'Is such a life worthy of the name?' asked Virginia in tones of awe.

'We shan't be driv