e of being rich if
one can't help people in trouble?"

But Ruth sighed and shook her head.

"Rich people have not much patience with failures, and the poor old
pater has not the gift of success. I am afraid Uncle Bernard will be
more inclined to blame than to help." And as events proved she was
right.

Mr Farrell sent word that he would be at liberty at ten o'clock in the
sitting-room adjoining his bedroom, and the first few minutes of the
interview proved that his attitude towards the family trouble was one of
scornful impatience rather than sympathy. He was apparently quite
unprepared for the girls, determination, and would not at first believe
in its sincerity.

"You are surely joking," he said scathingly. "If your parents are in
such straits as you describe, how do you propose to help them by giving
them two more people to keep and feed? It appears to me that your room
would be more valuable than your company."

Ruth flushed painfully.

"We hope to be able to help, not to hinder. When a child like Trix has
already found work, we ought not to lag behind. It would be impossible
to go on living in the lap of luxury, wearing fine clothes, eating fine
meals, being waited upon hand and foot, while our own people are in
actual need."

"Unless--" interrupted Mollie, and then stopped short, while Mr Farrell
turned sharply towards her.

"Unless what? Finish your sentence, if you please."

"Unless you will help them for us!" gasped Mollie, crimson, but daring.
"It would be so easy for you to lend the pater what he needs, and he
would promise to pay you back--we would all promise! We would work
night and day until it was made up."

Mr Farrell smiled sardonically.

"At last! I knew it must come. It would not be Mollie if she had any
scruples about asking for what she wanted. No, my dear, I never lend.
It is against my principles to throw good money after bad. At the risk
of appearing a monster of cruelty, I must refuse to interfere in your
stepfather's affairs. There are still six weeks of your visit here to
run, and I shall be pleased to relieve him of your support for that
time; otherwise--"

"We are much obliged, but we have decided to go home. You wished to be
able to judge our characters, and you have had enough time to do so,
with very unsatisfactory results, if we are to judge from yesterday's
conversation!" cried Ruth, with a sudden burst of indignation. "If you
can believe us capable of