, at
the same time having their hearts drawn out after those less fortunate,
is to me one of the greatest evils of the day."

[Illustration: Decoration]

CHAPTER X.

MISS SMITHERS COMES, AND A SURPRISE.

"WE had better engage Ann Smithers," said Ruth, after several old
dresses had been cut down and made over for Martha. "She knows so well
how to manage, and has patterns of the styles. With our help she can
accomplish a great deal in a few days."

"Do you think we can get new dresses this Fall? We have worn these
faithfully, you know?" inquired Agnes, as she examined and re-examined
her suites.

"Not for some time, I fear; it takes a great deal to keep up a house
these times. But it does not seem fair that you should give your money
to me, Agnes. In future you had better keep what remains after paying
for your board. It is not right to have you work hard and get so few
clothes."

"Do you get any more, and haven't I as good a right to do without things
as you?"

"No, it is different. I keep the house, and perhaps things are not
managed well. I don't know. I get bewildered at times to know which is
the best way. But now that we have Martha and she understands her work
so well, I intend to give music lessons this Fall. That will be a great
help."

"And yet, when you think _you_ ought to do this, you want _me_ to keep
money from the house, so that I may have new dresses when I choose. O,
Ruth, could you think me so selfish!"

"It would not be selfish, it would be right," urged her sister. But she
could not bear to tell Agnes that if it were not for Guy they might
both dress differently. He had come to her repeatedly for money to help
him out of difficulty, and now he said there was no manner of use in
attempting to do business up three flights of stairs; he must have a
ground floor, and of course that would involve greater expense.

"If you could only manage to start me in this, Ruth," he had said,
"there is no reason why I should not succeed. These one-horse affairs
are always failures. I will pay you back again when money comes in you
may be sure, as there is no doubt it will."

Then Ruth, who could not resist such pleading, told him to make the
change and she would help him out with his rent, resolving then and
there to do extra work in order to meet the demands upon her. She
reasoned in this way, that if she chose to make sacrifices for Guy,
Agnes need not share them, and if she told her she sure