there were some others ostracized like herself, but they accepted their
position as a matter of course--as if it belonged to them and was the
least of their troubles.

Her strength was returning, yet she was still feeble when she sent for
Mrs. Watterly and asked, "Do you think I'm strong enough to take a
place somewhere?"

"You ought to know that better than me," was the chilly reply.

"Do you--do you think I could get a place? I would be willing to do
any kind of honest work not beyond my strength."

"You hardly look able to sit up straight. Better wait till you're
stronger. I'll tell my husband. If applications come, he'll see about
it," and she turned coldly away.

A day or two later Tom came and said brusquely, but not unkindly,
"Don't like my hotel, hey? What can you do?"

"I'm used to sewing, but I'd try to do almost anything by which I could
earn my living."

"Best thing to do is to prosecute that scamp and make him pay you a
good round sum."

She shook her head decidedly. "I don't wish to see him again. I don't
wish to go before people and have the--the--past talked about. I'd
like a place with some kind, quiet people who keep no other help.
Perhaps they wouldn't take me if they knew; but I would be so faithful
to them, and try so heard to learn what they wanted--"

"That's all nonsense, their not taking you. I'll find you a place some
day, but you're not strong enough yet. You'd be brought right back
here. You're as pale as a ghost--almost look like one. So don't be
impatient, but give me a chance to find you a good place. I feel sorry
for you, and don't want you to get among folks that have no feelings.
Don't you worry now; chirk up, and you'll come out all right."

"I--I think that if--if I'm employed, the people who take me ought to
know," said Alida with bowed head.

"They'll be blamed fools if they don't think more of you when they do
know," was his response. "Still, that shall be as you please. I've
told only my wife, and they've kept mum at the police station, so the
thing hasn't got into the papers."

Alida's head bowed lower still as she replied, "I thank you. My only
wish now is to find some quiet place in which I can work and be left to
myself."

"Very well," said Tom good-naturedly. "Cheer up! I'll be on the
lookout for you."

She turned to the window near which she was sitting to hide the tears
which his rough kindness evoked. "He don't seem to shrink from me as if