others exchanged a look, and smiled with such a strange air that
Monica could not but notice it.

'I know!' she cried. 'There's good news. You have found something, and
better than usual Virgie.'

'Perhaps so. Who knows? Eat your slice of cake like a good child, and
then I shall have something to tell you.'

Obviously the two were excited. Virginia moved about with the recovered
step of girlhood, held herself upright, and could not steady her hands.

'You would never guess whom I have seen,' she began, when Monica was
quite ready to listen. 'We had a letter the other morning which did
puzzle us so--I mean the writing before we opened it. And it was
from--Miss Nunn!'

This name did not greatly stir Monica.

'You had quite lost sight of her, hadn't you?' she remarked.

'Quite. I didn't suppose we should ever hear of her again. But nothing
more fortunate could have happened. My dear, she is wonderful!'

At considerable length Virginia detailed all she had learnt of Miss
Nunn's career, and described her present position.

'She will be the most valuable friend to us. Oh, her strength, her
resolution! The way in which she discovers the right thing to do! You
are to call upon her as soon as possible. This very after noon you had
better go. She will relieve you from all your troubles darling. Her
friend, Miss Barfoot, will teach you typewriting, and put you in the
way of earning an easy and pleasant livelihood. She will, indeed!'

'But how long does it take?' asked the astonished girl.

'Oh, quite a short time, I should think. We didn't speak of details;
they were postponed. You will hear everything yourself. And she
suggested all sorts of ways,' pursued Virginia, with quite
unintentional exaggeration, 'in which we could make better use of our
invested money. She is _full_ of practical expedients. The most
wonderful person! She is quite like a _man_ in energy and resources. I
never imagined that one of our sex could resolve and plan and act as
she does!'

Monica inquired anxiously what the projects for improving their income
might be.

'Nothing is decided yet,' was the reply, given with a confident smile.
'Let us first of all put _you_ in comfort and security; that is the
immediate need.'

The listener was interested, but did not show any eagerness for the
change proposed. Presently she stood at the window and lost herself in
thought. Alice gave signs of an inclination to doze; she had had a
sleepless night, i