he said it the expression
intensified, yet it seemed a little forced.

There needed no magician to tell that these two were sisters. The
indescribable similarity was strong, yet the difference was great.
Jessie was evidently, though not much, the elder.

"It's almost absurd, Kate," she said, "to think that we should actually
have--come--at last--to--"

She stopped, and Kate looked earnestly at her. There was a tremulous
motion about the corners of both their mouths. Jessie laid her head on
Kate's shoulder, and both wept--gently. They did not "burst into
tears," for they were not by nature demonstrative. Their position made
it easy to slide down on their knees and bury their heads side by side
in the great old easy-chair that had been carefully kept when all the
rest was sold, because it had belonged to their father.

We may not record the scarce audible prayer. Those who have suffered
know what it was. Those who have not suffered could not understand it.
After the prayer they sat down in a somewhat tranquil mood to "talk it
over." Poor things--they had often talked it over, without much result,
except that blessed one of evolving mutual sympathy.

"If I were only a little younger and stronger," said Kate, who had been,
and still was of a lively disposition, "I would offer myself as a
housemaid, but that is out of the question now; besides, I could not
leave you, Jessie, the invalid of the family--that once was."

"Come, Kate, let us have no reference to the invalid of the family any
more. I am getting quite strong. Do you know I do believe that poverty
is doing my health good; my appetite is improving. I really feel quite
hungry now."

"We will have tea, then," said Kate, getting up briskly; "the things
that we got will make one good meal, at all events, though the cost of
them has reduced our funds to the low ebb of one penny; so, let us enjoy
ourselves while it lasts!"

Kate seized the poker as she spoke, and gave the fire a thrust that
almost extinguished it. Then she heaped on a few ounces of coal with
reckless indifference to the future, and put on a little kettle to boil.
Soon the small table was spread with a white cloth, a silver teapot,
and two beautiful cups that had been allowed them out of the family
wreck; a loaf of bread, a very small quantity of brown sugar, a smaller
quantity of skim-milk, and the smallest conceivable pat of salt butter.

"And this took all the money except one penn