her a governess's salary, although she cannot
teach? and will you, my other beloved friend, speak to the editor of
the magazine you most admire, and ask him to accept poems which do not
scan, and stories which are the feeble productions of an ambitious
child? And will you, my last friend, come to the rescue by employing a
certain sweet little girl to look after your kittens?' Arthur, how can
those girls be independent unless they are taught?"

"Still I believe the girls can be helped; and that it is the right and
only thing to do," said Noel. "I propose to talk to Miss Egerton about
them. I will ask her to go into figures with me, and to state what sum
she thinks ought to be expended on their education. She probably knows
something about what talents they have by this time. After she and I
have talked our plans over together we will ask you whether you are
inclined to advance the necessary money. If you say 'Yes,' Miss
Egerton will speak to the girls, and tell them quite openly what you
are doing, and appeal to their common sense not to reject their only
real chance of obtaining an independence bye-and-bye. They can, if
they think right, arrange to pay you back within a certain term of
years. I believe you will do best for them by making such an
arrangement."

Mrs. Ellsworthy both frowned and smiled, but finally agreed to allow
Arthur Noel to have his own way.

That very afternoon the energetic young man went to see Miss Egerton.
They discussed the subject in an its bearings, and Miss Egerton
arranged to speak to Primrose at the first opportunity.

CHAPTER XXXV.

THEIR QUARTER'S ALLOWANCE.

"Two letters," said Daisy, holding them up in her hand; "actually two
letters; one for Primrose--oh, yes! of course that must be from Mr.
Danesfield; and one for Jasmine--oh! Jasmine's is such a funny-looking
letter, quite thick and interesting, and with a darling little picture
on the back. What can the picture be?--oh! some little bells, and _The
Joy-bell_ written over them."

"Give it to me," said Jasmine, her face suddenly turning crimson. "Oh,
Daisy! why do you examine my letters so curiously? This was meant to
be quite private. Oh, oh, oh! how my fingers tremble."

"We are all alone, you know, Jasmine," said Daisy; "dear Primrose is
not in. She went to her continual reading nearly an hour ago. Dear
Primrose! she sometimes looks quite pale and tired. Perhaps the letter
is about our secret, Jasmine; please do re