t contains money. I
have a kind of idea that it contains three bank notes for L5 each. I
have never opened it, and I never wish to. I meant to return it some
day to this kind friend--yes, I know he meant to be very kind. This is
what he has written on the outside of the envelope."

Miss Egerton read aloud--"When you want me, use me; don't return me,
and never abuse me."

"There must be money here, my dear," she said.

"Yes, I know there is money," said Primrose, "for he wanted to press
fifteen pounds on me when I went to say good-bye; but I was too proud
to accept it, so now I think he has thought of this way of helping us.
We could buy our furniture out of some of that money, Miss Egerton."

"Quite so, dear," said Miss Egerton, in a very cheerful voice. "Give
me the letter, Primrose, and I will put it carefully away for you; you
need not open it just at this moment. I will order just as little
furniture as possible, and have it sent in to-day, and then when the
bill comes you shall pay out of this envelope. I should not be
surprised if we did our furnishing for seven pounds; I thought of so
many nice, cheap little expedients last night. Now go home, dear, and
come to me again in the evening, and I will tell you what I have done.
I have no doubt I can have your rooms ready by to-morrow; is Daisy
pleased at the idea of coming?"

"Yes, she is delighted," said Primrose; "her dear little face quite
changed when I spoke about it. I am sure you are right, Miss Egerton,
and the change will do her lots of good."

"I mean to make your attics quite charming," said Miss Egerton. "They
shall be converted into a kind of beautiful palace for my brave young
workers. Yes, Primrose, I admire your spirit, and if I can do anything
to aid you three girls to conquer fate, I will."

The moment her school duties were over Miss Egerton went out. She
visited certain shops that she knew of--queer little, quaint,
out-of-the-way shops--quite pokey little places; but from their depths
she managed to extract one or two round tables, one or two
easy-chairs, a few brackets, which could be easily converted into
book-shelves, a certain sofa, with not too hard a back, a couple of
fenders, some fire-irons, some cups and saucers, some dinner plates.
These and a few more necessary articles she bought for what would have
seemed a ridiculously low figure to any one who was not in her secret.
The furniture was all conveyed to her neat little house that