make a living by writing! Well, you'll want courage--and money. Have you
had any luck?"

"I've sold two stories," answered Lauriston, who by that time was feeling
as if the girl was an old friend. "They come to twenty pounds for the two,
at the rate that magazine pays, and I've asked for a cheque--it's that I'm
waiting for. It ought to come--any time."

"Oh, but I know that game!" said Zillah. "I've two friends--girls--who
write. I know how they have to wait--till publication, or till next pay-
day. What a pity that some of you writers don't follow some other
profession that would bring in a good income--then you could do your
writing to please yourselves, and not be dependent on it. Haven't you
thought of that?"

"Often!" answered Lauriston. "And it wouldn't do--for me, anyway. I've
made my choice. I'll stick to my pen--and swim or sink with it. And I'm
not going to sink!"

"That's the way to talk--to be sure!" said the girl. "But--keep yourself
in money, if you can. Don't go without money for three days when you've
anything you can raise money on. You see how practical I am! But you've
got to be in this world. Will you tell me something?"

"It strikes me," answered Lauriston, looking at her narrowly and bringing
the colour to her cheeks, "that I'm just about getting to this--that I'd
tell you anything! And so--what is it?"

"How much money have you left?" she asked softly.