that she thought her curious questions impertinent. When I read this
expression of opinion so plainly in your eyes, Primrose, I felt
afraid, and questioned no further. My dear, it is a fact that cowards
always resort to pen and ink when they want to express a frank
opinion. I am now going to say on paper what I feared to put into so
many words the other night. First of all, you are mistaken about me. I
am not what you think me.

"Oh, yes! I know very well what that proud little heart of yours tells
you about me. It says, 'She is great and rich, and she is curious
about us girls, and she wants to patronize us--'"

Here Primrose had to put down her letter, for she was interrupted by
an exclamation from Daisy--

"But we _don't_ think like that of our darling, pretty Mrs.
Ellsworthy--do we, Jasmine?"

"Go on reading, Primrose," said Jasmine.

Primrose continued--

"You are all wrong about me, my dear, dear girls, and yet, after a
measure, you are right; for in a certain sense I _am_ curious about
you; and most undoubtedly I want to help you. I know already a certain
portion of your story, and already I can partly read your characters.
The part of your story I know is this: You are ladies by birth--you
are very ignorant of the world--and you have not at all sufficient
money to live on. Your characters are as follows: