vested the money from the sale of the place at Seaforth in some
stocks that gave out somehow. He lost it all. So then we had nothing
but the stipend from England; and I think papa somehow lost part of
that, or was obliged to take part of it to meet obligations.'

'And you?'

'We did very well,' said Esther, with another smile. 'We are doing very
well now. We are out of debt, and that is everything. And I think papa
is pretty comfortable.'

'And Esther?'

'Esther is happy.'

'But--I should think--forgive me!--that this bit of a house would
hardly hold you.'

'See how mistaken you are! We have two rooms unused.'

Pitt's eye roved somewhat restlessly over the one in which they were,
as he remarked,--

'I never comprehended just why you went away from Seaforth.'

'For my education, I believe.'

'You were getting a very good education when I was there!'

'When _you_ were there,' repeated Esther, smiling; but then she went on
quickly: 'Papa thought he could not give me all the advantages he
wished, if we stayed in Seaforth. So we came to New York. And now, you
see, I am able to provide for him. The education is turning to account.'

'How?' asked Pitt suddenly.

'I help out his small income by giving lessons.'

'_You_, giving lessons? Not that, Esther!'

'Why not?' she said quietly. 'The thing given one to do is the thing to
do, you know; and this certainly was given me. And by means of that we
get along nicely.'

Again Pitt's eye glanced over the scanty little apartment. What sort of
'getting along' was it which kept them here?

'What do you teach?' he asked, speaking out of a confusion of thoughts
the one thing that occurred which it was safe to say.

'Drawing, and music, and some English branches.'

'Do you _like_ it?'

She hesitated. 'I am very thankful to have it to do. I do not fancy
that teaching for money is just the same as teaching for pleasure. But
I am very glad to be able to do it. Before that, there was a time when
I did not know just what was going to become of us. Now I am very
happy.'

Pitt could not at the moment speak all his thoughts. Moreover, there
was something about Esther that perplexed him. She was so unmovedly
quiet in her manner. It was kind, no doubt, and pleasant, and pleased;
and yet, there was a smooth distance between him and her that troubled
him. He did not know how to get rid of it. It was so smooth, there was
nothing to take hold of; while it was so distant, or p