e as long as he is exposed to
the risks of poverty. There are such people, you know. As a poor man, I
wouldn't trust him out of my sight; with money, he will be a tolerable
creature--as men go.'

Dora, no doubt, had her reasons for writing in this strain. She would
not have made such remarks in conversation with her friend, but took the
opportunity of being at a distance to communicate them in writing.

On their return, the two girls made good progress with the book they
were manufacturing for Messrs Jolly and Monk, and early in October it
was finished. Dora was now writing little things for The English Girl,
and Maud had begun to review an occasional novel for an illustrated
paper. In spite of their poor lodgings, they had been brought into
social relations with Mrs Boston Wright and a few of her friends; their
position was understood, and in accepting invitations they had no fear
lest unwelcome people should pounce down upon them in their shabby
little sitting-room. The younger sister cared little for society such
as Jasper procured them; with Marian Yule for a companion she would have
been quite content to spend her evenings at home. But Maud relished the
introduction to strangers. She was admired, and knew it. Prudence
could not restrain her from buying a handsomer dress than those she had
brought from her country home, and it irked her sorely that she might
not reconstruct all her equipment to rival the appearance of well-to-do
girls whom she studied and envied. Her disadvantages, for the present,
were insuperable. She had no one to chaperon her; she could not form
intimacies because of her poverty. A rare invitation to luncheon, a
permission to call at the sacred hour of small-talk--this was all she
could hope for.

'I advise you to possess your soul in patience,' Jasper said to her,
as they talked one day on the sea-shore. 'You are not to blame that you
live without conventional protection, but it necessitates your being
very careful. These people you are getting to know are not rigid about
social observances, and they won't exactly despise you for poverty; all
the same, their charity mustn't be tested too severely. Be very quiet
for the present; let it be seen that you understand that your position
isn't quite regular--I mean, of course, do so in a modest and nice
way. As soon as ever it's possible, we'll arrange for you to live with
someone who will preserve appearances. All this is contemptible,
of course;