happier girls to be found anywhere. 

 "And I have brought you half-a-pound of really good tea, mother," observed Martha, proudly.  "I knew what a treat that would be to you and father." 

 "You are a good girl, Patty," returned her mother, winking away the moisture in her eyes, as she went on with her ironing.  "Amabel, don't you be trampling on Patty's best dress, there's a good little lass. Well, as I was saying, Patty, only the children do interrupt so. There, Joe and Ben, just take your sugar-sticks and be off to play. I think I have found a nice little place for Susan. She is to sleep at home, but will have all her meals and half-a-crown a week, and the lady will teach her everything; that is pretty fair for a beginning, and as father says, the money will just find her in shoe-leather and aprons. Father's looking out for a place for Joe now." 

 "I wish Susan could have a place like mine, mother," returned Martha, proudly.  "They are real gentlefolks, that is what they are.  'Will you be so good as to clean my boots, Martha?' or 'Thank you, Martha,' when I dry the paper of a morning. Oh, it is like play living at the corner house, and as for that darling Miss Baby——" but here words failed Martha. 

 It could not be denied that Olivia was unusually depressed that afternoon, fog and damp always had this effect on her. Her nature needed sunshine and crisp, bracing air. 

 There was no buoyancy and elasticity in her tread. When people looked at her, as they often did, for her pliant, slim figure rather attracted notice, she thought they were only commenting on her old black hat and jacket. Only one article of her dress satisfied her; her boots were neat and strong. Marcus had found her one wet day warming her feet at the fire and had gone off to examine her boots without a word. Olivia had flushed up and looked uncomfortable when he came back with the boots in his hand. 

 "Do you want to be laid up with bronchitis or congestion of the lungs?" he asked, rather sadly, as he showed her the thin, worn soles; "do you think that will make things easier for me, Livy?"  The next day he had taken her himself to the bootmaker's and had had her fitted with a serviceable stout pair. 

 Somehow in spite of her pleasure in the boots and Marcus's thoughtfulness she had felt rather like a scolded child. 

 Her unusual pessimism had a moment's distraction, for as she passed the print-shop, at the corner 

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