expected; but anything to get it over. My dear girls,
you have come here to-day to hear what we have arranged for you. We
felt you could not go on as you have been doing."

"Impossible," here interrupted Mr. Danesfield. "They were the victims
of thieves and rogues. The thing could not have gone on a day longer."

"So we made plans--very nice plans," continued Mrs. Ellsworthy. "It
never occurred to us that they would be knocked on the head, crushed,
obliterated. Oh, I am very happy, of course, but I could cry at having
my plans spoiled a second time."

"I don't think they are really spoiled," said Primrose who had grown
very white, and now rose to her feet. "I know I was proud about
accepting help. I had such a longing to be independent. Perhaps I feel
sore about accepting help still, but I have made up my mind; for all
our sakes it is best. I submit--I give in--I am very grateful."

"Perhaps, Primrose," said Mrs. Ellsworthy, whose bright eyes were now
full of tears, "I may convince you yet that you have no cause to feel
sore, and that proud heart of yours will not be pained. I believe the
help you need is coming to you three sisters in such a guise that you
cannot fail but to accept it gladly, and as your natural right."

"It cannot quite be our natural right," said Primrose. "There are no
possible circumstances under which it can be quite natural for girls
to take money help from even the kindest friends who are not related
to them."

"In this case there may even possibly be a relationship," proceeded
Mrs. Ellsworthy. "Primrose, suppose that little brother who was lost
long ago--little Arthur your mother called him--suppose he came here
to-day, and said, 'I am grown up, and rich--I am the right person to
help my sisters,' you would feel no soreness of heart at accepting
help from your own brother, Primrose?"

"My own brother," repeated Primrose in a wistful and longing voice;
"it is cruel to remind me of my brother. He was lost many, many years
ago; he has probably long been dead."

"I should be the happiest girl in all the world if I could find my
brother," here interrupted Jasmine; "I often dream of him at night; he
must have been a darling little boy."

"But if he were to come here twenty times," said Daisy, "I could never
love him better than I love the Prince."

There was quite a little buzz of admiration through the room when
Daisy made this innocent little speech, and all eyes were turned on
Arthur N