place. Yes, ladies, it's my duty to go with the poor orphans, and go I
will."

While Mrs. Dredge was speaking Mrs. Mortlock ceased to hold Miss
Slowcum's very thin hand. Miss Slowcum's face looked decidedly
jealous, for she would have dearly liked to have been herself in Mrs.
Dredge's interesting and sympathizing position. Mrs. Mortlock raised
her almost sightless eyes to the fat little woman's face, and remarked
in a slightly acid voice--

"I'm obliged to you, Mrs. Dredge, for thinking that in the moment of
trial the sight of me and a sympathizing squeeze from my hand would
have done my continual reader any harm. It's very good-natured of you
to go with the orphan girls, Mrs. Dredge, and I'm glad to think you've
just had the support of your chop to sustain you under the fatigue.
Please remember, Mrs. Dredge, that we lock up the house in this home
at ten o'clock, and no latch-keys allowed. Isn't that so, Mrs. Flint?"

"Under ordinary circumstances, quite so, ma'am," answered Mrs. Flint,
who would not have minded snubbing Miss Slowcum, but was anxious to
propitiate both the rich widows; "under ordinary circumstances that is
so, but in a dire moment like the present I think the ten minutes'
grace might be allowed to Mrs. Dredge's kind heart."

"Here's the four-wheeler!" exclaimed Mrs. Dredge.

"Good-bye, ladies. If I'm not in at ten minutes past ten don't look
for me until the morning."

When Mrs. Dredge, Primrose, Jasmine, and Poppy got back to the girls'