e in front quite large and
pleasant. It was plainly but comfortably furnished. The kitchen was in
the rear, and there was a middle room between.

"These will be your apartments," said Mrs. Talbot. "Of course I have
no objection to your moving in any of your own furniture, if your
desire it."

"We have only ourselves to move in," said Paul. "We were burned out
early this week."

"Indeed! You were unfortunate."

"I thought so at the time," said Mrs. Hoffman, "but if it had not been
for that Paul would not have called upon Mr. Preston and we should not
have heard of you."

"Were you able to save nothing?" asked Mrs. Talbot.

"Scarcely anything."

"If you are embarrassed for want of money," suggested Mrs. Talbot
kindly, "I will advance you fifty dollars, or more if you require it."

"You are very kind," said Mrs. Hoffman gratefully; "but we have a sum
of money, more than enough for our present needs, deposited with Mr.
Preston. We are not less obliged to you for so kind an offer."

Mrs. Talbot was still more prepossessed in favor of her visitors by
the manner in which her offer had been declined. She saw that they had
too much self-respect to accept assistance unless actually needed.

"I am glad to hear that," she said. "It is not all who are fortunate
enough to have a reserve fund to fall back upon. Now, if you have
sufficiently examined the basement, we will go upstairs."

While passing through the upper chambers, Mrs. Talbot gave directions
for their care, which would not be interesting to the reader, and are
therefore omitted.

"I had intended," she said, "to offer you the use of the upper
chambers, but they are so far off from the basement that it might be
inconvenient for you to occupy them. If you prefer, you may move down
two bedsteads to the lower part of the house. I have no objection to
your putting one in the dining-room, if you desire it."

"Thank you, Mrs. Talbot; I should prefer it."

"Then you may consider yourself at liberty to do it. I believe I have
now said all I wanted to you. Can you come here next Tuesday?"

"Yes, we will do so."

"By the way, I forgot to inquire the size of your family."

"I have only one other child, a little boy of eight."

Mrs. Talbot heard this with satisfaction, for she was aware of the
destructive propensities of children, and preferred that the family in
charge should be small.

"I believe I have nothing further to say," said Mrs. Talbot. "Should
anyth