to go without clothes! They are always getting torn."

"I wish it was!" heartily responded my lady.

That same evening, in returning to her house from a visit, Constance
Channing encountered Mr. Yorke. He turned to walk with her to the door.

"I intended to call this afternoon, Constance, but was prevented from
doing so," he observed. "I have spoken to Lady Augusta."

"Well?" she answered with a smile and a blush.

"She would be very glad of _you_; but the difficulty, at first,
appeared to be about salary. However, I pointed out a few home truths,
and she admitted that if the girls were to be educated, she supposed
she must pay for it. She will give you forty guineas a year; but you
are to call upon her and settle other details. To-morrow, if it should
be convenient to you."

Constance clasped her hands. "I am so pleased!" she exclaimed, in a low
tone.

"So am I," said Mr. Yorke. "I would rather you went to Lady Augusta's
than to a stranger's. And do, Constance, try and make those poor girls
more what they ought to be."

"That I shall try, you may be sure, William. Are you not coming in?"

"No," said Mr. Yorke, who had held out his hand on reaching the door.
He was pretty constant in his evening visits to the Channings, but he