rushing away the tears, "I have just been
to see her, and she don't look to me as if she'd last the week out. I
believe she is far more dangerous than the doctor thinks."

"And if she dies, what will they do with that girl of Lynn's?" queried
Mrs. Brier. "She'll have to come on the town. I knew it was a perfect
piece of folly for that schoolmistress to take her to support, with only
her small salary. It's just as I predicted. Her strength _has_ failed,
and she can't do nothing more. 'Be just before you are generous,' is
_my_ motto."

Mrs. Brier never said a truer word than that in her whole life, for she
had never been guilty of many generous or self-denying deeds, and no
one could accuse her of erring in that respect.

The different benevolent Societies also met, and discussed the
probability of little Ruth Lynn's being thrown upon their generosity.
They finally decided that, in case of any such calamitous ending to the
madness of Clemence Graystone, the child should be turned over to the
proper authorities of the village, and they would wash their hands of
the whole affair.

Their fears proved entirely groundless. By some inexplicable means, the
two waifs, thrown thus strangely upon the protection of Widow Hardyng,
managed to exist without either the aid or sympathy of the rest of the
town. And Clemence, as the days grew cooler, rallied, and became rapidly
convalescent.

With returning strength, came again the old anxiety for the future. She
knew that her generous hostess, though willing to share her all with
them, ought not to be thus burdened. Her means were limited, and the
strictest economy was necessary to make their narrow income meet their
present wants. Clemence realized that her illness had brought additional
expense, which she knew not how to meet. The doctor's bill alone, which
she had not the means to meet, was appalling; besides, there were others
clamoring for a settlement of their dues. Mrs. Hardyng had repeatedly
cautioned her not to retard her recovery by brooding over her unhappy
position, and had taken these obligations upon herself.

In her feeble state of health, it was impossible for Clemence to
undertake any employment. She was almost in despair. After all her
superhuman efforts, she seemed placed in a worse predicament than when
she first commenced to labor for her bread, and there was now another
dependant upon her efforts. Long before she was really able, Clemence
had begun to employ h