t the pavement for Ida's
return from work, and shortly saw her approaching.

"This is kind of you," Ida said. "We'll have some tea, and then, if
you're not too tired, we might go into the park. It will be cool then."

She dreaded the thought of sitting alone with Harriet. But the latter
said she must get home early, and would only have time to sit for half
an hour. When Ida had lit her fire, and put the kettle on, she found
that the milk which she had kept since the morning for Grim and herself
had gone sour; so she had to run out to a dairy to fetch some.

"You won't mind being left alone for a minute?" she said.

"Oh, no; I'll amuse myself with Grim."

As soon as she was alone, Harriet went into the bed-room, and began to
examine everything. Grim had followed her, and came up to rub
affectionately against her feet, but she kicked him, muttering, "Get
off; you black beast!" Having scrutinised the articles which lay about,
she quickly searched the pockets of a dress which hung on the door, but
found nothing except a handkerchief. All the time she listened for any
footfall on the stone steps without. Next she went to the chest of
drawers, and was pleased to find that they were unlocked. In the first
she drew out there were some books and papers. These she rummaged
through very quickly, and at length, underneath them, came upon a
little bundle of pawn-tickets. On finding these, she laughed to
herself, and carefully inspected every one of them. "Gold chain," she
muttered; "bracelet; seal-skin;--what was she doing with all those
things, I wonder? Ho, ho, Miss Starr?"

She started; there was a step on the stairs. In a second everything was
replaced, and she was back in the sitting-room, stooping over Grim, who
took her endearments with passive indignation.

"Have I been long?" panted Ida, as she came in. "The kettle won't be a
minute. You'll take your things off?"

Harriet removed her hat only. As Ida went about, preparing the tea,
Harriet watched her with eyes in which there was a new light. She
spoke, too, in almost a cheerful way, and even showed a better appetite
than usual when they sat down together.

"You are better to-day?" Ida said to her.

"Perhaps so; but it doesn't last long."

"Oh, you must be more hopeful. Try not to look so much on the dark side
of things. How would you be," she added, with a good-humoured laugh,
"if you had to work all day, like me? I'm sure you've a great deal to
make you feel h