p a studio, and
is doing some crayon sketches of us all. If he'd only finish his things,
they would be excellent, but he likes to try a great variety at once.
I'll take you in sometime, and perhaps he will do a portrait of you for
Steve. He likes girls' faces and gets the likenesses wonderfully well."

"People say you are engaged but I contradict it, because, of course, I
should know if you were."

"We are not."

"I'm glad of it, for really, Rose, I'm afraid Charlie hasn't got 'firm
principles,' though he is a fascinating fellow and one can't scold him.
You don't mind my saying so, do you, dear?" added Kitty, for Rose did
not answer at once.

"Not in the least, for you are one of us now, and I can speak frankly
and I will, for I think in one way you can help Steve very much. You
are right about Charlie, both as to the principles and the fascination.
Steve admires him exceedingly, and always from a boy liked to imitate
his pleasant ways. Some of them are very harmless and do Steve good, but
some are not. I needn't talk about it, only you must show your boy that
you depend on him to keep out of harm and help him do it."

"I will, I will! And then perhaps, when he is a perfect model, Charlie
will imitate him. I really begin to feel as if I had a great deal to
do." And Kitty looked as if she was beginning to like it also.

"We all have and the sooner we go to work the better for us and those we
love. You wouldn't think now that Phebe was doing anything for
Archie, but she is, and writes such splendid letters, they stir him up
wonderfully and make us all love and admire her more than ever."

"How is she getting on?" asked Kitty, who, though she called herself a
"little goose," had tact enough to see that Rose did not care to talk
about Charlie.

"Nicely, for you know she used to sing in our choir, so that was a good
recommendation for another. She got a fine place in the new church at
L----, and that gives her a comfortable salary, though she has something
put away. She was always a saving creature and kept her wages carefully.
Uncle invested them, and she begins to feel quite independent already.
No fear but my Phebe will get on she has such energy and manages so
well. I sometimes wish I could run away and work with her."

"Ah, my dear! We rich girls have our trials as well as poor ones, though
we don't get as much pity as they do," sighed Kitty. "Nobody knows what
I suffer sometimes from worries that I can't talk