a pathetic
little smile. "But I will give up my quarter every month; perhaps that
will help papa a very little bit."

"That's it, Jeanie," cried Kat, with a startling suddenness. "We'll do
it too, Kittie, and that will make four dollars and a quarter less for
papa to hand over every month. Second the motion, Kittie?"

"Done!" echoed Kittie, and every body had a hearty laugh as the twins
shook hands violently over the table.

"But, mama," said Olive's quiet voice, breaking in upon the racket, "You
say papa is worried now, and yet what the girls have decided to do,
they can only do when they have fitted themselves for it; can't we do
anything to help right away?"

"Quite right, dear," answered Mrs. Dering. "You can all help right away;
though in a way that papa will strongly object to, for he does not like
to deprive home of any pleasures, or little luxuries that he can afford.
But we will go ahead and make our plans and take him by storm. First,
there is the horse and carriage; it will seem hard and strange for a
while without it, but it is a great expense, together with Jack's wages.
Papa has an opportunity of selling the buggy, and Mr. Phillips will take
'Prince' until we can afford to keep him again. Are you willing?"

"Yes, mama," in a rather feeble chorus, with Ernestine's voice lacking.
'Prince' was such a pet--O dear!

"And then, Lizzie," continued Mrs. Dering, apparently not noticing the
way all faces were going down. "We can get along with one girl, if we
all make up our minds to work. The house is large and it will take all
of our hands to do the necessary cleaning; but we can, can't we?"

"Yes, mama." A little more energy this time. Only Ernestine sighed
dolefully, and laid her hands out on her lap. Such slim little hands and
so white. It was perfectly horrible to be poor and have to go to work;
yes it was, and she privately resolved to shirk just as much as
possible.

They had a long evening's talk over the coming change and how they were
going to do, but at ten o'clock, as Mr. Dering was still absent, they
separated for the night, and mama carried sleepy little Jean off to bed
in her arms.

Beatrice and Ernestine roomed together in the front room, the twins in
one next, and Olive alone across the hall. Generally, while getting
ready for bed, the doors were left open, and a merry conversation
carried on; but to-night, they were full of thought, and had not much to
say, so everything settled into q