a weak girl, but sometimes girls like me have power. I will not
be afraid; I will go now to exercise all the power that is in me."

Effie left the room; she went to the one where her sisters slept,
changed her dress and washed herself, and then waking Agnes, to tell
her to be sure to look after her mother, she ran downstairs.

The landlady, Mrs. Robinson, met her in the passage.

"Why, surely, Miss Staunton," she said, "you are not going out on a raw,
foggy morning like this without breakfast?"

"Oh, I can't wait for breakfast," exclaimed Effie.

"I have some tea in my sitting room--do come in, and let me give you a
cup, miss. Do, now--you're so white, you look as if you'd drop."

"Thank you," said Effie, after a little pause. "I should be very glad of
a cup of tea," she added.

The landlady bustled her into her little sitting room, seated her by the
fire, and would not leave her alone until she had swallowed a cup of tea
and a piece of toast.

"I'm all the better for the tea," said Effie; "thank you very much."

The unlooked-for kindness cheered the poor girl; she looked upon it as a
good omen. She walked quickly up the narrow street which led into the
larger thoroughfare, and was soon on her way to Mr. Gering's office in
Leadenhall Street.

She arrived there just as the clock was striking nine. She did not allow
herself even to feel nervous, but, walking boldly in, asked to see Mr.
Gering at once.

"Have you an appointment with him?" asked the clerk whom she addressed.

"No; but I hope he will see me without that; my business is very
pressing."

"What is your name, miss?"

"Staunton." Effie hesitated for a minute, then she said abruptly, "I am
the sister of George Staunton, who is a clerk here."

The moment she uttered the words every clerk in the place looked up with
interest, and one, coming up in a somewhat familiar way, said
cavalierly:

"I don't think there's the least use in your troubling Mr. Gering; I may
as well tell you beforehand that he certainly won't see you."

At this moment a man came out of an inner room. He spoke to the head
clerk, who gave him a bundle of letters.

"Take these to Mr. Gering at once," he said.

Effie followed this man with her eyes.

The other clerks stared at her, expecting her to go.

She looked at the one to whom she had first spoken.

"Will you take my message to Mr. Gering?" she said. "Will you tell him
that Effie Staunton--George Staunton's sister--w