are dead beat.'

She led her away, motioning to Clare and Elfie not to follow, and they
stood looking at each other with dazed, bewildered eyes.

'Does she mean it? Is it really true?' exclaimed Elfie, 'Oh, how ill
she looks!'

'What a dreadful thing for Walter!' was Clare's response; and then the
full force of Gwen's words dawned upon them.

'Whatever shall we do? Agatha's hundred pounds will not keep four of
us!'

When Agatha returned to the room, nearly an hour later, she found an
anxious consultation going on by the fire. Her face was just as placid
as usual, though a shade graver.

'I have left her to sleep,' she said; 'it is the best thing for her.
She seems quite worn out, and I think it is best for none of us to go
near her till the morning.'

'Is it really true what she says?'

'I am afraid so. I would not let her give me details. She is so
filled with remorse at having persuaded you to invest your money so,
that I saw she was working herself into a perfect fever over it, and I
stopped her at once. I am thankful she is home again. I have been
very uneasy about her lately.'

'I never thought you were uneasy about anything,' said Clare, trying to
smile.

'We are planning what we can do to earn our livelihood, Agatha,' said
Elfie. 'Have you any idea to give us?'

'We will not go into that to-night,' was Agatha's quiet response.
'This house is our own, and so is the furniture. We have sufficient
for the present. When Gwen has got over the fatigue of her journey, we
will have a talk together about ways and means.'

Just before going to her own room for the night, Agatha stepped quietly
into Gwen's room.

She found her lying wide awake staring at the flickering fire with a
hard set face, and determined lips. Agatha came up and put her hand on
her forehead.

'You are feverish,' she said. 'Are you comfortable? Do you not feel
sleepy?'

'Would you?' was the quick retort.

'I am sure I should, after the journey you have had. Oh, Gwen dear,
don't look so! There are worse losses than money. Don't reproach
yourself too much.' And Agatha was so touched by the hopeless misery
in her sister's face that tears filled her eyes.

Gwen looked at her, and her face began to soften.

'You're a good old thing, Agatha. I wish I were more like you. You
will need all your faith and prayer now, and so will the others.
Good-night.'

She turned her face away, and with a kiss and an unspoken pray