belonged to the sweep. She had just
lost her own companion and follower, a splendid St. Bernard puppy, and
had not yet replaced him. As she fondled the dog, she heard a slight
sound near her, and, looking up, met the inquiring gaze of a pair of
wide-open brown eyes. They belonged to a girl of fourteen, a slight,
thin slip of a girl in a shabby dress that she had outgrown, and thick
dark hair tied loosely with a ribbon, and falling in a wavy mass over
her shoulders, and a small sallow face, looking at the present moment
very shy and uncomfortable.

'If you please,' she began timidly, and twisting her hands awkwardly as
she spoke, 'mamma is very tired and has gone to lie down. We only moved
in yesterday, and the place is in such a muddle.'

'Of course it is in a muddle,' replied Audrey in her pleasant, easy
fashion. 'That is exactly why I called--to see if I could be of any
assistance. I am Miss Ross, from the lower school--will you let me come
in and speak to you? You are Miss Blake, are you not?'

'Yes; I am Mollie,' returned the girl, reddening and looking still more
uncomfortable. 'I am very sorry, Miss Ross--and it is very good of you
to call so soon--but there is no place fit to ask you to sit down. Biddy
is such a bad manager. She ought to have got things far more comfortable
for us, but she is old--and----'

'Miss Mollie, where am I to find the teapot?' called out a voice
belonging to some invisible body--a voice with the unmistakable brogue.
'There's the mistress just dying for a cup of tea, and how will I be
giving it to her without the teapot? and it may be in any of those dozen
hampers--bad luck to it!'

'I am coming, Biddy,' sighed the girl wearily, and the flush of
annoyance deepened in her cheek.

Somehow, that tired young face, burdened with some secret care, appealed
to Audrey's quick sympathies. She put out her hand and gave her a light
push as she stood blocking up the entry.

'My dear, I will help you look for the teapot,' she said in the kindest
voice possible. 'You are just tired to death, and of course it is
natural that your mother should want her tea. If we cannot find it, I
will run round and borrow one from the Wrights. Everyone knows what
moving is--one has to undergo all sorts of discomforts. Let me put down
my sunshade and lace scarf, and then you will see how useful I can be';
and Audrey walked into the house, leaving Mollie tongue-tied with
astonishment, and marched into the dining