good! I don't know what I should have done without her! We must not
let her feel slighted because you have returned!"

That was true enough; Trix had borne the heat and burden of the day,
while her stepsisters were amusing themselves, in blissful ignorance of
the gathering troubles. Ruth's irritation was silenced by the reminder,
and she listened quietly while Mollie pressed her mother for details of
the present situation. Alas, it was even worse than had been expected!
It was so bad that it could not well be worse, and it seemed ridiculous
to talk of what they could afford, since, as a matter of fact, they
could afford nothing at all. It was a matter of speculation whence the
next twenty pounds was to come.

"`Man's extremity is God's opportunity!' Some friend will be raised up
to help us through this strait. It is not often that we are brought to
a point when we realise our own helplessness so plainly. Let us look
upon it as an opportunity, and watch to see what He will do. `Be not
dismayed, neither be afraid, for the Lord thy God is with thee
whithersoever thou goest.'"

Mrs Connor's voice sank to a rapt whisper, her face shone with that
wonderful grace and exaltation which the Christian knows in the midst of
his trial; but her daughters looked at her pinched cheeks and haggard
eyes, and felt their hearts sink within them.

It was a dreary evening--how different from the triumphant home-coming
which fancy had painted so often during the weeks of absence! The house
felt unbearably cramped and airless. It was dreadful to have no garden,
after having practically lived out of doors; and oh, what a contrast the
evening meal presented from the repast served nightly in the old oak
dining-hall!

When people are in the extremity of anxiety and poverty, they have no
heart to attend to the little superfluities which add so much to the
beauty of daily life; there was not a single flower on the table, nor in
the half-lit drawing-room, where Trix sternly forbade the lighting of a
second lamp. Mr Connor sat silent and haggard, and his wife poured out
tea and smiled a pathetic, patient little smile, as the children
catechised the travellers.

Was the Court a jolly big house? Were there strawberries in the garden?
Did the footmen wear white stockings, like the Lord Mayor's Show? What
was the name of the horse that bolted? What did they have for dinner
every night? On and on went the endless catechism, which the