nt her ordinary subscription
by a gift to an unauthorised collector.

"I am very sorry you should have had your walk in the rain," she said
sweetly, "but, of course, in mother's absence I can make no promises.
She will be home the day after to-morrow, if you could call again to see
her."

She flattered herself that she had evaded the difficulty very cleverly,
but Miss Thacker rounded on her in unexpected fashion.

"Shouldn't dream of asking you my love. Too much respect for your dear
mother but wished to appeal to young and generous sarts like self and
sisters! Any contribution however small! Every little helps. Most
grateful I am sure, subscription or donation?"

"But--but," Lilias heard three separate gasps of dismay from the window,
and realising that no help was forthcoming from that quarter, nerved
herself to the unpleasant task.

"We should like to subscribe very much indeed, if we could, but we have
only a small allowance, and at present are doing all we can to assist
another charity. I fear that we cannot spare any more money--"

Miss Thacker peered at her solemnly through her spectacles, and shook
her head from side to side.

"Ah, yes, my dear, can if you will! Every luxury and comfort, cup
overflowing, only Will is lacking. Look into your rart and ask yourself
what can I deny myself for rothers? Some worldly bauble, some article
of adornment which you had planned to get, which you could do without,
and reap pa rich reward. What is a hat, a dress, a fan, compared to the
succour rof suffering garts?"

Now, as it happened, Lilias was bound for town the very next day to buy
a supply of those fineries which her soul loved, so that this suggestion
was so aptly timed as to strike her dumb with confusion. She could have
gushed over the poor incurables for an hour on end; was ready to shed
tears at a recital of their woes; but to give up a new hat in order to
devote the money to their use, this was a flight of generosity to which
Miss Lilias Rendell could never attain! She grew hot with anger at the
inconsiderateness of the stranger in proposing such a sacrifice, hotter
than ever at the thought of the three young sisters agape to hear her
answer. Here was a pretty alternative, to consent and go without some
detail of her summer outfit, or to refuse and be branded as vain and
selfish? Lilias chose a middle course, and, extracting half a crown
from her purse, handed it over with melancholy resignati