d Mollie's, too! So
beautifully done! I suppose the maid taught you? Oh, darlings, I'm
thankful to have you back, but I should never have sent for you! You
were on the spot, and could judge best what to do. Did you--did you let
Uncle Bernard know of our trouble?"

The strained eagerness of the small face, the involuntary tremor in the
voice, smote the girls to the heart. Ruth turned her head aside,
herself on the verge of tears, while Mollie said brokenly--

"We sent him your letter to read, and when he said nothing I asked him
point-blank if he would lend father enough money to put things right
just now, and promised that we would all work to pay him back."

"Yes, dear--yes! And then?"

"He wouldn't. He jeered at me, and said he made it a rule never to
throw good money after bad. He would keep us for the remaining six
weeks, if we agreed to stay, but more than that he must refuse to do.
So there seemed no alternative, mother dear, but to come straight away
and try to help you ourselves."

"Yes, dear--yes. Bless you! You were quite right!"

Mrs Connor tried to speak bravely; but it was as if the last gleam of
hope had died out of her tired eyes, and her hands trembled as she
clasped them in her lap. She herself had not realised until this moment
how much she had counted upon Uncle Bernard's intervention, and now the
last hope seemed gone. She shivered, and put her hand to her head; then
forced herself to smile, as she met the girls' anxious gaze.

"It's always the darkest the hour before the dawn. You must talk things
over with pater, dears; my head is so confused. I shall be thankful for
your help in the house, and no doubt something will turn up for you, as
it has done for Trix."

"Mother," cried Ruth, with an outburst of irritation, which was the
result of tired-out nerves and body, "Trix is insupportable! She
behaves as if she were the head of the house! How can you let her give
herself such airs and domineer over you so? I shan't stand it for one,
and the sooner she understands it the better. I am not going to be
ordered about by a bit of a chit of seventeen, and apologise to her if I
dare to have as much as a cup of tea!"

"Hu-ush, dear!" Mrs Connor cast an apprehensive glance towards the
half-opened door, through which Trix's voice could be heard
superintending the carrying of the luggage. "She is such a child!
Young things are always inclined to go to extremes; and she has been so