her dress was still the
essence of simplicity and neatness, and her bearing was gentle and
dignified as of old. The alteration in Daisy was less apparent at this
moment, for she was stretched on two cushions in one corner of the
sitting-room, and with a warm rug thrown over her, and with the Pink
curled up in her arms, was fast asleep.

"How cold it is, Primrose," repeated Jasmine; then, as her sister made
no reply, but went on calmly darning some stockings, she continued, "I
think you have really grown stingy. Why can't we have some more coal?
this is much too small a fire for weather with snow on the ground, and
a horrid, odious fog filling every corner."

"Hush!" said Primrose, laying down her work, and stooping towards her
younger sister, who sat on the hearthrug, "I am keeping the coal to
put on until Daisy wakes. You know, Jasmine, we resolved not to run up
any bills, and I cannot get in any coal until Mr. Danesfield sends us
our next quarter's allowance--wrap my fur cloak round you, darling,
and then you will be quite warm."

Jasmine shivered, but rising slowly, she went into the bedroom, and
returned in a moment, not with the fur cloak, but with a white woolly
shawl. "The day for Mr. Danesfield's money will arrive in less than a
week," she said. "Oh, Primrose! I thought you were going to be a good
manager; I did not think you were going to bring us to this."

Primrose smiled.

"Jasmine, dear," she said, "you are not quite brave to-night, or you
would not speak to me in that tone. You forget that we should not have
been short of money had not that five-pound note been stolen from us.
When Mr. Danesfield's allowance comes in we shall be able to go on as
usual, and then you need not suffer from a short allowance of fire.
Jasmine, I know what is the matter with you; you did not eat half
enough dinner to-day. When I was out this afternoon I called to see
Miss Egerton, and she gave me three delicious new-laid eggs--really
new-laid--we'll have them for supper."

"No, we won't," said Jasmine, her eyes suddenly filling with tears,
and her pettish mood changing to a tender and very sad one--"those
eggs were given for Daisy, and no one else shall eat them. Do you
know, Primrose, that Miss Egerton does not think Daisy at all strong?"

"Oh, she is mistaken," said Primrose. "No one who does not know her
thinks Daisy strong; she has a fragile look, but it is only her look.
All my courage would go if I thought Daisy wer