between the two he is
starving."

Thus, one by one, the cases of those poor ones were considered until all
Ruth's money was apportioned, and Mrs Dotropy had become so much
interested, that she added a sovereign to the fund, for the express
benefit of Bella Tilly. Thereafter, Ruth and her mother departed,
leaving the list and the pile of money on the table, for the sisters had
undertaken to distribute the fund. Before leaving, however, Ruth placed
a letter in Kate's hand, saying that it had reference to an institution
which would interest them.

"Now isn't that nice?" said Kate, sitting down with a beaming smile,
when their visitors had gone, "so like Ruth. Ah! if she only knew how
much we need a little of that money. Well, well, we--"

"The tea is quite cold," interrupted Jessie, "and the fire has gone
out!"

"Jessie!" exclaimed Kate with a sudden look of solemnity--"the _penny_!"

Jessie looked blankly at the table, and said--"Gone!"

"No, it is _there_," said Kate.

"Yes, but Ruth, you know, didn't count the money till she came here, and
so did not detect the extra penny, and we forgot it. Every farthing
there has been apportioned on that list and must be accounted for. I
couldn't bear to take a penny out of the sum, and have to tell Ruth that
we kept it off because it was ours. It would seem so mean, for she
cannot know how much we need it. Besides, from which of the poor
people's little stores could we deduct it?"

This last argument had more weight with Kate than the others, so, with a
little sigh, she proceeded to open Ruth's letter, while Jessie poured
out a cup of cold tea, gazing pathetically the while at the pile of
money which still lay glittering on the table.

Ruth's letter contained two 5 pounds Bank of England notes, and ran as
follows:--

"DEAREST JESSIE AND KATE,--I sent your screen to the institution for
the sale of needlework, where it was greatly admired. One gentleman
said it was quite a work of genius! a lady, who seemed to estimate
genius more highly than the gentleman, bought it for 10 pounds, which
I now enclose. In my opinion it was worth far more. However, it is
gratifying that your first attempt in this way has been successful.

"YOUR LOVING RUTH."

"Loving indeed!" exclaimed Kate in a tremulous voice.

Jessie appeared to have choked on the cold tea, for, after some
ineffectual attempts at speech, she retired to the window and coughed.

The first act