course little Daisy, approved of this idea--Jasmine
said it was both romantic and strong--Daisy said she only wanted to be
with her own Primrose and her own Jasmine, and if the Pink might
always stay with her too she would be quite happy.

Accordingly, when the girls' week of pleasure had quite come to an
end, Primrose reminded her sisters that it was time for them to begin
to get lost.

"We are not really lost here," she said. "Mrs. Ellsworthy thinks
nothing of coming to town, and she could come to us at the Mansion any
moment; and now that we have met that friend of hers, that Mr. Noel,
she may be sending him to see about us--so you see it is more
important than ever that we should find a place where we can really
commence our work."

"I don't dislike Mr. Noel at all," said Jasmine. "It is a great pity
he is related to our darling Mrs. Ellsworthy, for we might have had
the comfort of his advice without being considered dependent. Oh,
Primrose! is it possible that we are too independent--I can't help it,
Primrose; I do feel lonely. I must cry just for a minute. I'd rather
do a page of the 'Analogy' to-night than not cry for a minute."

"My darling," said Primrose, putting her arms round Jasmine, "I am
sure that girls like us cannot be too independent, but I won't go on
with it if it really breaks your heart, Jasmine."

"Oh, but it doesn't really," said Jasmine; "I think it's a noble plan;
I wouldn't give in for the world. I have had my cry now, and I'm
better--but, Rose, how are we to look out for these nice, clean, cheap
lodgings if we aren't to consult any one?"

"We can consult people, and find out the locality we want, but we need
never tell the people we consult what number in the street we really
choose. Oh, there are lots of ways of finding out what we really want
to know."

"I'll talk to Mrs. Dredge to-night," said Jasmine. "I think Mrs.
Dredge is very practical and kind, and I don't know why Miss Slowcum
should dislike her so much. I'll get her all by myself this evening,
and talk to her."

Accordingly that evening, after the inmates of Penelope Mansion had,
as Mrs. Flint styled it, "tea'd," Jasmine sat down on a footstool at
Mrs. Dredge's feet, and laid herself out to be bewitching. No one
could be more charming than this little maiden when she chose, and she
had tact enough to adapt herself on most occasions to her company.

"I'm sure you have lots of experience, Mrs. Dredge," she began; "you
lo