and full, with a vibrating quality like the notes of
a violin--a very pleasant voice to hear, yet it hardly seemed reassuring
to the visitor. Unconsciously, she sat up straighter in her chair, her
nervous fingers plaiting the fringe of her shawl.

"I heard you mention my name," the countess continued: "is there anything
you wish of me?"

Therese came to Mrs. Bailey's assistance: "Her husband is out of work:
can't you do something with Mr. Seleigman, Helen? Bailey is a good
workman."

"He is indeed, ma'am," added Bailey's wife eagerly, "and as sober and
faithful to his work: he never slights one bit."

"I don't doubt it," said the countess gravely; "but, Mrs. Bailey, if we
were to take your husband on, and the union were to order a strike, even
though he were perfectly satisfied with his own wages, wouldn't he strike
himself, and do all he could to make the others strike?" Mrs. Bailey was
silent.

"A strike might cost us thousands of dollars. Naturally, we don't want to
risk one; so we have no union-men. If Bailey will leave the union he may
go to hammering ploughshares for us to-morrow, and earn, with his skill,
twenty dollars a week."

Mrs. Bailey's face worked. "'Tain't no use ma'am," she said desperately:
"he won't go back on his principles. He says it's the cause of Labor, and
he'll stick to it till he dies. You can't blame him, ma'am, for doing what
he thinks is right."

"Perhaps not. But you see that it is impossible for us to employ your
husband. Isn't there something I can do for you yourself, though? Mrs.
Greymer tells me you sew very neatly."

"Yes, I sew," said Mrs. Bailey in a dull tone, "but I'd be obliged to you,
ma'am, if you'd give me the work soon: I've a machine now, and I'll likely
not have it next week. There's ten dollars due on it, and the agent says
he'll have to take it back. I've paid fifty dollars on it, but this month
and lost times was so hard I couldn't pay."

The countess put a ten-dollar bill in her hand. "Let me lend you this,
then," she said, unheeding the half shrinking of Mrs. Bailey's face and
attitude; and then she avoided all thanks by answering Lettice's summons
at the door.

"Poor little woman!" she said to Mrs. Greymer at breakfast--"she didn't
half like to take it. She looked nearly starved too, though she ate so
little breakfast. How did you manage to persuade her to take that huge
bundle?"

"She is a very brave little woman, Helen. I should like to tell you about