d, I can pay no more."

"Pardon me for saying that that is no affair of mine," said the landlord
brusquely. "If you can't pay the rent, by all means move into a smaller
house. If you stay here you must be prepared to pay fifty dollars a
month."

"I don't see how I can," answered the widow in dejection.

"I'll give you three days to consider it," said the landlord
indifferently. "You'll make a mistake if you give the house up. However,
that is your affair."

The landlord left the house, and Mrs. Forbush sat down depressed.

"Julia," she said to her daughter, "I wish you were old enough to advise
me. I dislike to move, but I don't dare to engage to pay such a rent.
Fifty dollars a month will amount to----"

"Six hundred dollars a year!" said Julia, who was good at figures.

"And that seems a great sum to us."

"It would be little enough to Mrs. Pitkin," said Julia, who felt that
lady's prosperity unjust, while her poor, patient mother had to struggle
so hard for a scanty livelihood.

"Oh, yes; Lavinia is rolling in wealth," sighed Mrs. Forbush. "I can't
understand how Uncle Oliver can bestow his favors on so selfish a
woman."

"Why don't you ask Philip's advice about keeping the house?" said Julia.

It must be explained that Philip and Julia were already excellent
friends, and it may be said that each was mutually attracted by the
other.

"Poor Philip has his own troubles," said Mrs. Forbush. "He has lost his
place through the malice and jealousy of Mr. and Mrs. Pitkin, for I am
sure that Lavinia is the cause of his dismissal, and I don't know when
he will be able to get another."

"You won't send him away, mother, if he can't pay his board?"

"No," answered her mother warmly. "Philip is welcome to stay with us as
long as we have a roof over our heads, whether he can pay his board or
not."

This answer seemed very satisfactory to Julia, who rose impulsively and
kissed her mother.

"That's a good mother," she said. "It would be a pity to send poor
Philip into the street."

"You seem to like Philip," said Mrs. Forbush, smiling faintly.

"Yes, mother. You know I haven't any brother, and Phil seems just like a
brother to me."

Just then the door opened, and Philip himself entered the room.

Generally he came home looking depressed, after a long and ineffectual
search for employment. Now he was fairly radiant with joy.

"Phil, you've got a place; I know you have!" exclaimed Julia, noticing
his glad