y had shone the night
before.

The two set off together after breakfast, and wished each other good
luck as they parted at the door of Miss Bayly's shop. Lizette came back
at night jubilant. "I got my good luck, Olga," she cried. "I'm to have
eight a week now. Isn't that fine?"

"Indeed it is--congratulations, Lizette. And I had my good luck
too--better than I dared hope for--two splendid orders. Now we can both
settle down to work and get a nice start before the next Camp Fire
meeting. I'm going to try to keep half a day a week free for our
'learning Washington' trips."

"Personally conducted?" Lizette laughed.

"Personally conducted. Your company is solicited, Miss Stone, whenever
your other engagements will permit."

Over the tea-table they talked of work and Camp Fire plans, and then
Lizette went off to her own "corner" and Olga took up a book. She had
been reading for an hour when her quick ears caught the sound of
hesitating steps outside her door--steps that seemed to linger
uncertainly. Thinking that some stranger might have wandered in from the
street, she rose and quietly slipped her bolt. As she did so there came
a knock at the door. She stood still, listening intently. No one ever
came to her door except the landlady or the Camp Fire Girls, and none of
them would knock in this hesitating fashion. She was not in the least
timid, and when the knock was repeated she opened the door. She found
herself facing a woman, young, in a soiled and wrinkled dress and shabby
hat, and carrying a baby in her arms.

"Olga--it is Olga?" the woman exclaimed half doubtfully.

Olga did not answer. She stood staring into the woman's face and
suddenly her own whitened and her eyes widened with dismay.

"You?" she said under her breath. "_You!_"

"Yes, I--Sonia. Aren't you going to let me in?"

For an instant Olga hesitated, then she stood aside, but in that moment
all the happy hopefulness seemed to melt out of her heart. It was as if
a black shadow of disaster had entered the quiet room at the heels of
the draggled woman and her child.

"This is a warm welcome, I must say, to your own sister," Sonia said in
a querulous tone, as she dropped into the easiest chair and laid the
child across her knees. It made no sound, but lay as it was placed, its
eyes half closed and its tiny face pinched and colourless.

"I--I can't realise that it is really--you," Olga said. "Where did you
come from, and how did you find me?"

"