her, and that makes
her late to breakfast. She goes out teaching every morning, and comes
back tired and late to luncheon; and you see she is never in her place
at dinner until the soup is removed, and every one at the table helped.
When I once suggested that she ought not to sit up so long at night, and
that her classes should be arranged not to fatigue her so much, with
other bits of friendly advice, she gave me to understand, very promptly,
that her ways were her own, and not to be interfered with by any one.
And directly afterward the tears came into her eyes. I confess I did not
understand her at all."

"What about the young man who calls here twice a week?" I inquired.

"She is engaged to him, she says."

"What sort of a person does he seem to be?"

"He looks well enough, only rather shabby, is very quiet, very attentive
to her, and what you might call obedient to her requirements. She often
seems displeased with him, but what she says to him at such times is
unknown to me, for she does her scolding all in French; and he usually
then invites her out to walk, by way of diversion, I suppose."

"Do you know that he comes every morning and carries her books for her?
He certainly cannot be employed, or he would not have time for such
gallantries."

"Perhaps he is engaged on one of the morning papers, and so is off duty
in the forenoon. I cannot think so industrious a person as she would
take up with a man both poor and idle. But you never know what a woman
will do," sighed Mrs. Mason, who had known something of heart-troubles
in her youth, and could sympathize with other unlucky women. "Excuse me;
I must not stand here gossiping." And the good lady went about her house
affairs.

A few moments later I was hurrying down town to my office, when I
overtook Miss Jorgensen and Mr. Hurst. As usual, she was leaning upon
his arm, and he was carrying her books. She was talking excitedly, in
French, and I thought her to be crying, though her face was covered with
a black veil. The few words I caught before she recognized me reminded
me of my conversation with Mrs. Mason.

"You _must_ get something to do, Harry," she was saying. "You know that
I work every instant of the time, yet how little I can save if I have to
supply you with money. It is a shame to be so idle and helpless, when
there is so much to be done before----"

She perceived me and stopped short. "So," I thought, "this precious
scamp is living off the earni