A Plucky Girl

re times when her daughter Weste

remark on these occasions, "than if yo

. It was in vain for her, poor darling, to speak of our friends, of those dear, nice, good

not worth keeping will leave us. And now do you know what I mean to do? I mean this morning, with your leave, to order the carriage, the carriage which we must

hen, Westenra, for I

her you had the courage; but still, neve

ked at me

you?" she s

" I replied, "I was t

ook her h

is awful idea, West, you must conside

nd patted

and hopeful as long as I have you with me, so there! Now, may I ring the bell

s order I sat down with considerable appetite to

etty carriage. First of all I would visit m

e. When we drew up at the house I jumped out, ran up the steps and sounded the bell. The ma

en I scribbled something o

see you particularly, the matter

ra Wic

ed up and ga

I will wait to see if the

wn in a mo

see you, Miss Wi

own some corridors, I was shown into the small boudoir where the Duchess ge

please. Now then, Westenra, what is the meaning of this? What

said; "mother is awfully distressed,

near me. No, I am not specially busy. Is it about the Russells' reception? Oh, I can take you if your m

upted. "Please let me speak. I want to say

e," said

hite hand! How I adored my beautiful old friend! It woul

ankly," I said. "I love you very mu

odmother, do

ouble has c

e, my dear, wha

it. There is the sinking-down way, which means getting small and poor and thin, anaemic, in shor

ph would understand you; he is here; do you want to s

taking a great liberty: no one else w

speak,

lost ou

oney!" cried

mother was not at all to blame. But we have nothing left, or nearly nothing-I m

rsonal, West

live in a cottage

ld scarcely afford a workman's cottage, but I will speak to my friends; something must be arranged immediately. Your de

l we be beholden to the charity of our friends. Now, here is the gi

id the Duchess a

nice, healthy part of the town. There are big Squares a

you would live close to it. But why, w

who come to town for a short time find it a good centre. So we mean to go there, and-and make money. We will take o

h a lodging-house keeper, and mother had always hitherto been the Duchess's equal. I had never before felt distrait or nervous in the Duchess's presence

good-bye, for we must do it. I see you understand. Mother said that it would part us from o

n my knees and raised the jewelled hand

into hysterics, nor talk in that wild way. Sit down again quietly,

smile, and reli

hear of people who take paying guests? They swa

ld me of such places. As a rule I go to hotels by preference, but do you mea

ying guests. People will come and live with us, and pay us so much a week, and we will provide rooms for them, and

y back in her chair. S

ely like to ask, but was there ever a

tainly not developing in me. I have always been renowned f

ty, but you have both intelligence and, what is more important from my point of view, distinction in your bearing. Your father was my dear and personal friend. The man he rescued, at the cost of his own life, was my relation. I have known your mother too

was responsible. You ought to blame him, and be very angry with him, but please don't blame me. I am only doing the best I can under most adverse circumstances. If mother and I went to the country we

ed in my life. Whatever goes wrong, Westenra, people have to li

glove with them if I went into the country, but in all probability in the boarding-house in Bloomsbury we shall be able to have good meals. Now I must really say good-bye

at is the long and short of it, but your mother will explain things. Stay to lunch with me, Westenra,

carriage at the end of the week, and I have other people to see. I must go immediately

t have I heard you aright? You are going to live in apartments. No; you are going into the country to a labourer's cottage-no, no, it isn't that; you are going to let apartments to people, and they are not to ha

id aloud, "and I love you better than I ever loved you before," and then I kissed her hand again and ran out of the

called, but I boldly sent my name in; I was told that her ladyship would see me in her b

. Take off your hat. That will do, Allison; you can come ba

ady Thesiger fixed her languid,

said, "that is, if you mean to be good-natur

, and she was a power in her way, but she was little older than I, and we had of

oes that mean that

age. Now listen, you are going to be awfully shocked, but if

r? Let me see. Show me your profile? I am not sure whether I quite like it. Yes, on the whole, I think I do. You have pr

don't waste time now over my personal appearance. What

ou were strong. Your shoulders are just a trifle too broad, and sometimes I think you are a little too tall,

d I are at daggers drawn. I am going to do tha

d attitude, and sat up on her elbow. "Do pass me that box of Fuller's chocolat

e of the

aid her ladys

as briefly as possible-moth

want it so much; but if that is all, it is rather fashionable to be poor. I was told so the other day. Some one will ado

Jasmine, this diatribe of mine leads up to the fact that we are going to start a boarding-house. Now you have the truth, Jasmine. We expect to have charming people to live with us, and to keep a large luxurious house, and to retrieve our lost fortune. Our quondam friends will of course have nothing to do with us, but our real friends will respect us

e was sitting up on the sofa; there was a flush on each cheek, and

inks I

feel your forehead. Are you feverish? Is i

nsely pleased and excited. I never felt so full of go and energy in my life. I am going to do that which will prevent mother feeling the pinch of poverty, and I can tell you that such a deed is worth hundreds of 'At Homes' and receptions and flirtations. Why, Jasmine, yesterday I was