live, Mr. Danesfield?"

Mr. Danesfield rose from his seat, and coming over to Primrose, laid
his hand on her shoulder--

"Live! my poor, dear child; you and your sisters would starve. No,
Miss Mainwaring, there is nothing for you three girls to do but to
turn to and earn your living. Your friends, I doubt not, will help,
and you must take their help. I shall be delighted to give advice.
Now, my dear child, my trap is at the door, and I must go. Good
morning--good morning."




CHAPTER IX.

A STRANGE LETTER AND A PROPOSED VISIT TO LONDON.


Primrose was always direct in her movements--she made up her mind
quickly; from her earliest childhood she was in the habit of acting
with decision.

After her short interview with Mr. Danesfield she went straight home,
and without paying any attention to the clear voice of her pet Daisy,
who called to her from the garden, or to Jasmine's little
impatient--"Sister, I want you to help me to arrange the trimming on
my new black skirt," she ran upstairs, and locked herself into her
mother's room.