heart fluttered a little.

The other young ruffian rose, and walked out quietly.

"If you didn't mind, Ben Hay," she said, an hour or so after, as they
were shutting up for the night, "I'd like to have you drop in quite
often of an evening. The boys are hardly big enough if we should ever be
beset by such scamps as that, and you've always been so friendly-like."

"Yes," answered Ben, flushing, and casting a sheepish look at the desk,
where Rose's curly head was bent over her accounts. "Yes, I'm at your
service. It's enough sight cheerfuller here than in Mother Mitchell's
boarding-house. I'll be glad to come."

"Thank you."

Miss Barry heard of this, and told it over to Jack.

"Ben Hay is a good, plucky fellow. He used to go down at noon for beer,
but I do not think he has been since the coffee-house was opened.
Sylvie, do you know, I believe reformers in general would be more
successful if they put a good and pleasant thing in the place of the
evil they assail. Too often they leave their convert to pick his way
alone. Hay is very much interested in the plans of the mill. The
meetings have done this much already,--a spirit of inquiry has been
awakened in some of the men, and they are reading up what other people
have achieved in this line. I want them to get well grounded before
there comes any strain. We can't go on prospering forever. That would be
too much like fairy-land."

"But every one thinks the panic nearly at an end," and Sylvie studied
the grave face before her.

"I do not want to croak," and Jack gave a little laugh that sounded
forced, "but we have just begun to pay off our debts. Every city and
town, and nearly every individual, is in debt. If we could pay with
promises to pay, we might tide over a while longer; but when interest
reaches a certain point, it swallows capital. If we can meet our
indebtedness everywhere, as fast as it matures, well and good: if not,
then we have only nibbled at the crust of our bitter pie."

"Anyhow," cried Sylvie, with the woman's sanguine nature, "Yerbury is a
great deal better off than it was last winter. Every one admits there
is much less suffering."

"There is more employment, and no broken bank," with a cheerful smile.

"Do you know," said the young girl presently, while a faint color went
wandering over her fair face, "that they are doing a marvellous stroke
of business at Garafield's, even if the times are bad? Mrs. Garafield
was down to tea a few evenin