o
overburthened with worries, so perplexed and altogether out of heart,
could not refrain from pouring her troubles out to her; for, first of
all, her sympathy, and, secondly, her little gift of the rose had
carried her straight into Miss Pidsley's lonely, aching heart.

There was Miss Hammond, of course, for her to confide in, and Miss
Hammond would have been told some of the worries by-and-by, but deep
down in Miss Pidsley's heart lurked a little pain, a little trouble that
Miss Hammond's advice could never lessen. Miss Hammond was attractive,
charming, genial, and every one liked her; the girls all adored her.
Miss Pidsley was not attractive, and she had not a genial manner, and
she told herself that nobody cared for her, and that the girls feared
and disliked her. And, unfortunately, this feeling, which hurt her
cruelly, made her withdraw herself more and more from all but what one
might call the business part of the life, and so gave the girls a real
reason for feeling towards her as they did.

Fortunately Kitty had not known Miss Pidsley long enough to realize how
very unlike herself she was now, so she was not at all embarrassed, but
only intensely full of a desire to help.

"Miss Pidsley," she said, after a moment's pause, "if you would let me,
I will write to father and ask him if he knows of any girls that would
do for you. He often does hear of servants wanting places--nice ones
too. You see, he knows so many poor people."

Miss Pidsley looked up surprised. She had never thought of Kitty as a
possible helper in her dilemma. "It is very kind of you, Katharine, to
think of it," she said warmly. "I should indeed be most grateful to
your father if he could help me. He would know that the girls were
respectable and nice. But I really do not like to trouble him, he is
such a busy man."

"Oh, father wouldn't think it a trouble. I will write to-night," said
Kitty, delighted at the prospect of being able to help. "I wish you had
been with us this afternoon, Miss Pidsley; you would have enjoyed it
so. We had a lovely time."

"I wish I had," said Miss Pidsley. "At any rate I should have had some
tea, which is more than I got at home."

"No tea!" Kitty was shocked. No wonder she found her mistress tired and
overdone. "Shall I tell them to get you some now?" she asked, moving
towards the door.

"Oh no!" cried Miss Pidsley, alarmed. "I would not ask for anything
while matters are in such a state i