atisfy you, Miss
Primrose?--shall I give you my solemn promise only to use the address
with which you favor me to forward your money each quarter, and never
to divulge your secret to anybody else?"

Finally this plan was adopted, and Primrose received her small
quarterly allowance with great regularity.

CHAPTER XXII.

CROSS PURPOSES.

After his interview with Jasmine in St. Paul's Cathedral, Arthur Noel
went home to his very luxurious chambers in Westminster, and wrote the
following letter to Mrs. Ellsworthy:--

"MY DEAR MOTHER-FRIEND,

"The most curious thing has happened. I came accidentally to-day
across the three girls about whom you were so interested. I met them
at St. Paul's, and could not help speaking to the second one. The
brightness, and yet the melancholy, of her little face attracted my
attention. She was not with the rest of her party, but sat for some of
the time on one of the chairs, and then knelt down and covered her
face. Poor little soul! I think she was crying. My sympathies were
roused by her, and I spoke. She flashed up a very bright glance at me,
and we became friends on the spot. I took her about the cathedral, and
showed her one or two objects of interest. She was full of
intelligence. Then her sisters joined her, and your boy came up, and,
of course, his name came out; and there was confusion and wondering
glances, and the girl whom I had spoken to turned first crimson, and
then white, and her dark grey eyes became full of tears. 'I know the
Ellsworthys; they are my dear, dear friends!' she exclaimed.

"I found out where the three lived before I left them. They were
accompanied by a prim-looking maiden lady, who was introduced to me as
a Miss Slowcum, and who appeared to be taking excellent care of the
pretty creatures. All three are delightful, and I have lost my heart
to them all.

"Can I do anything for them? Of course you have already told me what
perverse creatures they are, and Miss Jasmine confirmed your story,
only, of course, she put her own coloring on it. I pity them, and yet,
to a certain extent--forgive me, mother-friend--I admire their spirit.
That eldest girl had a look about her face which will certainly keep
every one from being rude to her. Such an expression of innocence and
dignity combined I have seldom come across. Now, can I help them? It
is an extraordinary thing, but I have a wonderful fellow-feeling for
them. I can never forget the old days when I