ary!" murmured Lena, with what I considered most admirable
presence of mind.

"What name did you say?" cried Mrs. Desberger, eager enough to learn all
she could of her late mysterious lodger.

"I had rather not tell her name," protested Lena, with a timid air that
admirably fitted her rather doll-like prettiness. "_She_ didn't tell you
what it was, and _I_ don't think I ought to."

Good for little Lena! And she did not even know for whom or what she was
playing the _role_ I had set her.

"I thought you said Mary. But I won't be inquisitive with you. I wasn't
so with her. But where was I in my story? Oh, I got her so she could
speak, and afterwards I helped her up-stairs; but she didn't stay there
long. When I came back at lunch time--I have to do my marketing no
matter what happens--I found her sitting before a table with her head on
her hands. She had been weeping, but her face was quite composed now and
almost hard.

"'O you good woman!' she cried as I came in. 'I want to thank you.' But
I wouldn't let her go on wasting words like that, and presently she was
saying quite wildly: 'I want to begin a new life. I want to act as if I
had never had a yesterday. I have had trouble, overwhelming trouble, but
I will get something out of existence yet. I _will_ live, and in order
to do so, I will work. Have you a paper, Mrs. Desberger, I want to look
at the advertisements?' I brought her a _Herald_ and went to preside at
my lunch table. When I saw her again she looked almost cheerful. 'I have
found just what I want,' she cried, 'a companion's place. But I cannot
apply in this dress,' and she looked at the great puffs of her silk
blouse as if they gave her the horrors, though why, I cannot imagine,
for they were in the latest style and rich enough for a millionaire's
daughter, though as to colors I like brighter ones myself. 'Would
you'--she was very timid about it--'buy me some things if I gave you the
money?'

"If there is one thing more than another that I like, it is to shop, so
I expressed my willingness to oblige her, and that afternoon I set out
with a nice little sum of money to buy her some clothes. I should have
enjoyed it more if she had let me do my own choosing--I saw the
loveliest pink and green blouse--but she was very set about what she
wanted, and so I just got her some plain things which I think even you,
ma'am, would have approved of. I brought them home myself, for she
wanted to apply immediately for t