dismissing the last of her morning pupils. She was standing on her
steps in her neat brown alpaca dress, over which she wore a large
black apron of the same material with a bib to it. This apron had
capacious pockets, which at the present moment were stuffed with her
pupils' French exercises. On her head she had an antique-looking cap,
made of black lace and rusty black velvet, and ornamented with queer
little devices of colored beads.

She was delighted to see Primrose, and took her at once into her
little sitting-room. "Now my dear, you will stay and have dinner with
me. You don't mind having no meat, dear. My middle-day meal to-day
consists of a salad and a rice soufflée. You are welcome to share it
with me, Primrose."

"Thank you," said Primrose, "but I am not at all hungry. If you do not
mind, I will talk to you while you dine. Miss Martineau, I have come
to ask your advice."

Miss Martineau came up instantly and kissed the young girl on both
cheeks.

"My love, I am delighted. It gives me the sincerest pleasure to give
counsel to the young and inexperienced. Have you come from Mrs.
Ellsworthy, dearest?"

"Not at all," answered Primrose. "Mrs. Ellsworthy has nothing to say
to me. She is only a friend, nothing more. Miss Martineau, we have
discovered that we cannot live on our little income. Please will you
tell me how we can add to it, so that we three can keep together?"