hard to keep
my head above water, Mr. Brent, but I find it hard to meet my expenses.
I cannot meet my rent due to-morrow within fifteen dollars, and I dared
to hope that if I could meet Uncle Oliver face to face and explain
matters to him, he would let me have the money."

"I am sure he would," said Phil warmly.

"But he is in Florida, and will probably remain there for a month or two
at least," said Mrs. Forbush, sighing. "But even if he were in the city I
suppose Lavinia would do all in her power to keep us apart."

"I have no doubt she would, Mrs. Forbush. Though she is your cousin, I
dislike her very much."

"I suppose the boy with whom you were talking was her son Alonzo?"

"Yes; he is about the most disagreeable boy I ever met. Both he and
his mother seem very much opposed to my having an interview with your
uncle."

"Lavinia was always of a jealous and suspicious disposition," said Mrs.
Forbush. "I have not seen Alonzo since he was a baby. He is two years
older than my Julia. He was born before I estranged my relatives by
marrying a poor man."

"What are you going to do, Mrs. Forbush, about the rent?" asked Phil, in
a tone of sympathy.

"I don't know. I shall try to get the landlord to wait, but I don't know
how he will feel about it."

"I wish I had plenty of money. I would gladly lend you all you need."

"I am sure you would, Philip," said Mrs. Forbush. "The offer does me
good, though it is not accompanied by the ability to do what your good
heart dictates. I feel that I am not without friends."

"I am a very poor one," said Phil. "The fact is, I am in trouble myself.
My income is only five dollars a week, and my expenses are beyond that.
I don't know how I am going to keep up."

"You may stay with me for three dollars a week, if you cannot pay four,"
said Mrs. Forbush, forgetting her own troubles in her sympathy with our
hero.

"No, Mrs. Forbush, you can't afford it. You need money as much as I do,
and perhaps more; for you have more than yourself to support."

"Yes, poor Julia!" sighed the mother. "She is born to a heritage of
poverty. Heaven only knows how we are going to get along."

"God will provide for us, Mrs. Forbush," said Philip. "I don't know how
it is, but in spite of my troubles I feel cheerful. I have a confidence
that things will come out well, though I cannot possibly imagine how."

"You are young, and youth is more inclined to be hopeful than maturer
years. However, I do n