Likenesses, sometimes; little
bits of anything I like."

Lady Brierley begged to be shown a specimen of the likenesses; and
forthwith persuaded Dolly to come and make a picture of herself. With
which agreement the visit ended.

If she had come some months ago, thought Dolly as she looked after the
retreating figure of her visitor, I should have liked it. She might
have been a friend, and a great help. Now, I don't think you can, my
lady!

CHAPTER XXXI.

HANDS FULL.

Dolly was, however, partly mistaken. Lady Brierley was a help. First,
for the likenesses. Dolly painted so charming a little picture of her
ladyship that it was a perpetual letter of recommendation; Lady
Brierley's friends desired to have Dolly's pencil do the same service
for them; neighbouring families saw and admired her work and came to
beg to have her skill exerted on their behalf; and, in short, orders
flowed in upon Dolly to the full occupation of all the time she had to
give to them. They paid well, too. For that, Dolly had referred to Lady
Brierley to say what the price ought to be; and Lady Brierley, guessing
need on the one hand and knowing abundance on the other, had set the
price at a very pretty figure; and money quite piled itself up in
Dolly's secret hoard. She was very glad of it; for her supplies from
her father became more and more precarious. He seemed to shut his eyes
when he came to Brierley, and not recognise the fact that anything was
wanting or missing. And well Dolly knew that such wilful oversight
could never happen if Mr. Copley were himself doing true and faithful
work; she knew he was going in false and dangerous ways, without being
able to follow him and see just what they were. Her one comfort was,
that her mother did not seem to read the signs that were so terribly
legible to herself.

And here too Lady Brierley's new-found friendship was of use. She
wrought a diversion for the girl's troubled spirits. She was constantly
having Dolly at the House. Dolly objected to leaving her mother; at the
same time Mrs. Copley very much objected to have Dolly stay at home
when such chances offered; so, at first to paint, and then to give her
sweet company, Dolly went often, and spent hours at a time with Lady
Brierley, who on her part grew more and more fond of having the little
American girl in her society. Dolly was a novelty, and a mystery, and a
beauty. Lady Brierley's son was in Russia; so there was no harm in her
being a