, she is most interesting,' said Miss Peck, when the first
evening was over, and Teen had gone to bed, not to sleep, but to lie
enjoying the luxury of a down-bed and dainty linen, and pondering on
this wonderful thing that had happened to her,--'most interesting. What
depths in her eyes--what self-possession in her demeanour! My dear, you
can make anything of that girl.'

Miss Peck was given to romancing and enthusiasm, but the contrast
between her opinion and that expressed by Mrs. Fordyce made Gladys
smile. She did not feel herself as yet very particularly drawn towards
her guest, whose reserve of manner was sometimes as trying as her
outspokenness on other occasions.

'I am glad you like her, Miss Peck. I confess that sometimes I do not
know what to make of her. But, you see, she is the only one who can be
of any use to me; she knows all about working girls and their ways. If
only I could find poor Lizzie Hepburn! She always knew exactly what she
meant, and she was clever enough for anything,' said Gladys, with a
sigh.

'But tell me, my dear, what is it you wish to do? I don't know that I
quite comprehend.'

'Indeed, I am not quite clear about it yet myself, though, of course, I
have an idea I want to help them, especially the friendless ones. If it
could be arranged, I should like to establish a kind of friendly Club
for them in Glasgow, where they could all meet, and where those who have
no friends could lodge; then I should like to have a little holiday
house for them here, if possible.'

'My dear, that is a great undertaking for one so young.'

'Do you think so? I must try it, and you must help me, dear Miss Peck,
for Mrs. Fordyce won't. She doesn't approve at all of my having invited
Christina Balfour down here.'

'My dear, the world never does approve of anything done out of the
conventional way,' said Miss Peck, with a quiet touch of bitterness. 'I
think you have a very noble aim, and the heart of an angel; only there
will be mountains of difficulty in the way.'

'We must overcome them,' answered Gladys quickly.

'And you will meet with much discouragement, and a great deal of
ingratitude,' pursued the little spinster, hating herself for her
discouraging words, but convinced that it was her duty to prepare her
dear charge for the worst.

'Not more than I can bear,' Gladys answered. 'And I am quite sure that,
with all these drawbacks, I shall also receive many bright, encouraging
things to help me