es. I've got enough to do that and yet
do something for that girl at Enderby."

She paused in her pacing, sat down suddenly and frowned deeply.

"There's no use," she groaned. "That Mr. Middleton will take her away
from me, mark my word. What sort of a man is he, anyhow?"

Mrs. Moss didn't confess that she had taken him for a lunatic; but her
description was colorless.

"Of course, I should be only too glad to take Elsie back with me," she
added wistfully, "though I couldn't give her advantages."

Miss Pritchard gave her a look of sympathy, though she couldn't conceive
of her wanting Elsie as she herself did.

"Neither you nor I will have any chance," she returned gloomily. "He'll
snap her up--that minister. And I shall be desolate in my old age--for I
shall grow old in a night if I lose Elsie."

"But there's the other Elsie," rejoined Mrs. Moss plaintively. "There
seems to be one apiece for every one except me."

"Oh, _Elsie Pritchard_! Good heavens!" Miss Pritchard began her pacing
again. "I shall have her on my hands. I never thought of that!"

"I suppose you'd hardly expect to have them both," remarked the other
mildly.

"I certainly won't have Elsie Pritchard by herself!" Miss Pritchard
retorted. Then she laughed at herself, though ruefully.

"Ah, that accounts for the five hundred dollars!" she exclaimed suddenly.

"I don't understand what you mean," murmured Mrs. Moss plaintively. Now
even Miss Pritchard had begun to talk like Alice in Wonderland.

Miss Pritchard paused in her walk and explained rapidly and in great
detail, leaving Mrs. Moss as much in the dark as before. Again she went
the length of the room, pausing before Mrs. Moss to demand: "What sort of
a girl is this Elsie Pritchard?"

"To tell the truth, I was so taken aback, I scarcely noticed. She's a
pretty girl and ladylike."

Miss Pritchard groaned.

"Well, I think she looks as if she had character," Mrs. Moss added.

"Any ginger?"

"Well, perhaps not," the other admitted. "But you should have heard Mr.
Middleton talk about her--er--work in the parish."

"Good heavens! Visiting the sick and distributing tracts?"

"Not exactly," Mrs. Moss smiled. "He spoke about the library and--well,
I'm afraid I didn't take in the rest."

"Never mind, I can guess. And I see my finish when she gets hold of me.
She'll endeavor to reform me. A year ago, now, I was prepared for a
superior person. But after Elsie----"

"What