her mother wrote of those things
that were troubling her, began to read at once:

"DEAREST COUSIN CHARLOTTE,

"It is _more_ than good of you to have my four poor children and give
them a _home_. They will be as _happy_ as possible with you, I
_know_. I expect by this time they have reached you. To come to the
_business_ part of our plan, which I know _you dislike_ as much as _I_
do, I am _very_ thankful you can keep them, clothe and educate them,
for the hundred and fifty pounds a year. Their clothes need cost but
_very little_; after all, it does not much matter what _children_ wear
in a country place."

"I have my friends here," Miss Charlotte was thinking, "and I cannot let
my little cousins run about dressed like little tramps."

"While as for their _education_, we need only think of Esther and
Penelope _yet_, and theirs must be of the _simplest_; it matters so
much _less_ for_ girls_ than for _boys_."

"Oh dear, oh dear," thought Miss Charlotte, "what a mistaken notion!"

"Ronald _hopes_ to send more when the children are a little older.
Oh, this _dreadful_ want of money! I have been nearly _distracted_ to
know what to do. _Do_ you mind, dear Cousin Charlotte, if I do not
send you the cheque for this quarter till later on, but keep it for
my own needs, which are _so_ urgent? I _have_ to get _so_ much for
my outfit, and so _many_ things besides, I find I have not nearly
enough money for it all. I _hope_ you do not mind. I am up to _my
eyes_ in work, turning out the house and packing; and to-morrow I go
to stay with friends in the North. I think the change will _brace_
me up for the journey; _I sadly need_ it.

"My love to the chicks and to yourself.

"Your affectionate cousin,"
"MAUDE CARROLL."

For a moment Esther could not lift her eyes from the sheet, they were too
full of bitter tears of mortification. "Oh, why does mother always act
like this," she was crying to herself, "and make people think unkind
things of her? It is cruel of her, too, to leave us like this with a
stranger, and not a penny to pay for it all."

Esther's heart burnt hot with shame as well as anger, for she knew
instinctively that Miss Charlotte Ashe would never see one penny of that
money. She knew, oh, she knew only too well! She had had six