g to
Smallbones' store to obtain some iron bolts for her husband.

But these good women wronged Annie Gay when they hinted at time-serving
to Eve on account of the money her husband was making. Her friendship
for Eve was of much too long standing, and much too disinterested for
it to be influenced by the other's sudden rise to prosperity. As a
matter of fact it made her rejoice at the girl's sudden turn of
fortune. She was cordially, unenviously glad of it.

She found Eve hard at work at her sewing-machine, in the midst of an
accumulation of dress stuff, such as might well have appalled one
unused to the business. But the busy rush of the machine, and the
concentrated attitude of the sempstress, displayed neither confusion
nor worry beyond the desire to complete that which she was at work
on.

Eve glanced up quickly as Annie came in. She gave her a glance of
welcome, and silently bent over her work again. Annie possessed
herself of a chair and watched. She liked watching Eve at work. There
was such a whole-hearted determination in her manner, such a
businesslike directness and vigor.

But just now there was more to hold her interest. The girl was not
looking well. Her sweet young face was looking drawn, and, as she had
told her that very morning, she looked like a woman who had gone
through all the trials of rearing a young family on insufficient
means. Now she was here she meant to have it out with Eve. She was
going to abandon her role of sympathetic onlooker. She was going to
delve below the surface, and learn the reason of Eve's present
unsmiling existence.

All this she thought while the busy machine rattled down the cloth
seams of Jane Restless's new fall suit. The low bent head with its
soft wavy hair held her earnest attention, the bending figure, so
lissome, yet so frail as it swayed to the motion of the treadle. She
watched and watched, waiting for the work to be finished, her heart
aching for the woman whom she knew to be so unhappy.

How she would have begun her inquiries she did not know. Nor did she
pause to think. It was no use. She knew Eve's proud, self-reliant
disposition, and the possibilities of her resenting any intrusion upon
her private affairs. But she was spared all trouble in this direction,
for suddenly the object of her solicitude looked up, raised her
needle, and drew the skirt away from the machine.

"Thank goodness that's done," she exclaimed. Then she leaned back in
her chair an