er for
themselves by struggling for independence than by living with the
Ellsworthys. I always did maintain that work hurts no one."

So Primrose carried out her little plans, and made all arrangements,
and her friends, when they found she would not yield, came round her,
and began to counsel her as to the best place to go to.

Mrs. Ellsworthy was, after all, the first to forgive the girls. She
felt very indignant, and stayed away for more than a week; but one
evening, when the day's packing was over, and the three, rather tired
but quite cheerful and full of hope, were sitting down to their tea,
her carriage was seen to draw up to the door, and the little lady,
bustling and good-natured as ever, entered the drawing-room.

"My dears," she said, holding out a hand each to Primrose and Daisy,
but imprinting a kiss on her favorite Jasmine's brow, "my dears--Oh,
of course, I am still very angry! I see, too, that you are at that
horrid packing; but if you must go, there is a Mrs. Moore--such a good
soul, a widow, and quite a lady--indeed, I may say highly connected.
She lives in Kensington, and I have written to her. My dears, she
would be charmed to take you all into her family. She would give you
comforts--oh! I don't mean luxuries, but the necessary comforts that
young girls who are using their brains require. She would feed you
well, and chaperone you when you went out, and, in short, see to you
all round. I know her house so well. It is very pretty--indeed,
charming--and she would take you in for a pound a week between you.
She would give you board and lodging, and all you require, for a pound
a week. I hope, my dear Primrose, you don't consider that too dear. It
is, I believe"--here Mrs. Ellsworthy coughed slightly--"considered
cheap for Kensington."

This torrent of words, poured forth with rapidity and yet with
distinctness, rather astonished the girls. They were afraid they had
lost Mrs. Ellsworthy for their friend, and they, every one of them,
hailed this overture of kindness with delight. Innocent Primrose never
even suspected that a pound a week for the lodging and maintenance of
three girls was at all unusually cheap. She little guessed that Mrs.
Ellsworthy had written to her special friend, Mrs. Moore, telling her
the girls' story, begging of her to give them a home, to provide them
with every comfort, and even luxury, and asking her to look to her,
Mrs. Ellsworthy, for the necessary payment.

Jasmine beg