and his house, and his wealth, and that we were his nearest relatives, and that some day he would surely remember us, and break his silence; but he never has, so now I look upon him as a sort of mythological figure who has no real existence. If he cared anything about us he would have written long ago. I expect he has forgotten our very existence, and left all his money to charities.”

“I expect he has, but it’s fun to pretend. Suppose he remembered my birthday and sent me a ten-pound note! Fancy me, my dear, with a whole ten pounds to spend as I liked. What fun we’d have! Most of it would have to go in useful things, but we’d take a sovereign or two and have a reckless burst just to see what it was like. A hansom to town, lunch at a real swagger restaurant; and, after that, good seats at a matinée, ices between the acts, and another hansom home, instead of shivering at the corner waiting for omnibuses. Oh, bliss! Oh, rapture! If it could only come true! If uncle would once come to see us, he couldn’t help liking us; could he?”

“He’d like me best, because I am pretty,” said Ruth calmly.

“He’d like me best, because I am so nice!” contradicted Mollie. And then they looked at each other, and each made a little grimace, supposed to express scorn and contempt, but in reality there was so complete an understanding beneath the pretence that it was almost as expressive as a caress.

After this came a few minutes’ silence, while the two needles were woven diligently to and fro; then—

“Mollie!” said Ruth suddenly, “I’ve come to a decision. I’ve been thinking it over for ages, so don’t imagine it’s a whim, or that I don’t mean what I say. It’s time that one of us turned out and earned some money on our own account, and, as I’m the eldest, I’m the one to go. Business gets worse and worse, and expenses increase, and must go on increasing, as the children grow up. Trix will be sixteen in summer; in less than two years she will leave school, and three grown-up daughters are not needed in any house when the mother is well and strong. I once thought of waiting until then; but I am twenty-two now, and, if I am to do any good, there is no time to waste. You could get along without me even now.”

The half-darned sock fell on Mollie’s knee, and for once the sunny face looked thoroughly shocked and startled.

“I couldn’t—I couldn’t! None of us could! What would happen if everything depended on me? You remind me, and keep me up to the mark, and 

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