"There isn't a chance for any one in Mossvale," put in Nancy. She
herself had been secretly wondering what they were going to do for
support.

"So I told mother some time ago," responded Richard. "The few places
here are all filled."

"Thought you were going to try New York?" said Grace, who was serving
the tea.

"So I was. But--" The boy did not finish, but glanced over to where
his mother sat.

"I could hardly bear to have you go away," said Mrs. Dare. "It would
be so lonely--your father and you both out of the house. I would rather
have you home, even if we had a good deal less to live upon."

"To-morrow I will go out and see what Mossvale has to offer," returned
Richard. "In our circumstances it would not be right for me to waste
any time."

"Do as you think best," was Mrs. Dare's reply. "You are old enough to
think and act for yourself."

But Richard did not wait for the next day before he began his hunt.
That evening he called upon Dr. Melvin to obtain some medicine for his
mother, and after this portion of his errand was over he broached the
subject of securing a position.

"You will find it a hard matter," said the doctor kindly, "unless you