Good Luck

and that she supported her family; if it failed her, therefore, her livelihood was cut off. She was a brave little woman; never in all her long life had she feared to look the truth in

oo great pain to sleep, and w

dark in bed. She lay down and gazed straight out into the deep shadows which filled the little room. It was a moonlight night, and some of

I didn't like, somehow, to hear her say it-the will o' the Lord seemed so masterful like, so crushing like, so cruel. And now the will o' the Lord has come to me. It wor the Lord's will to bless me all my life hitherto, but now it is his will to make things sore dark. Some

. Her hand stroked down the smooth, round head; the child stirred in her dreams, murmured "Grannie," and turned over on her other sid

," she used to say; "that's the sec

d by the fat little girl, up admiringly

longer earn the family meal, and Kitty and the othe

e old woman. "The p'int to be considered now i

t the little ones had never known sorrow yet, and Grannie resolved that they should have a perfect Christmas Day. Afterward, if Alison would only consent to marry Jim, half the family would be provided for. For Grannie, although she was proud, had no false pride, and she felt that a man who was earning such magnificent wages as two pounds a week might undertake the care, at any rate for a time, of two little children. But even granted that Alison and the two youngest were off her hands, there were still Davi

or a new situation, she suggested that she should call at the shop in Regent Street, see the manager

ric had been properly feather-stitched there was thirty shillings to be got on it; but I'll be glad of fifteen, and you can let Mr. Squire know. I am pleased that Dave knows the stitch, for he can teach it to his wife when he gets one. He have promised, dear lad; there's a fortin' in it yet, for a member of the fam'ly wot hasn't learned handwriting. It's them schools wot are at the bottom of all this trouble, Alison. Ta

her grandmother wished in the matter of the feather-stitching; and wit

ection, and nothing could ever be the same again. A sort of agony came over her as she heard Alison running downstairs, a fierce desire to call her back, to beg of her not to go to Mr.

wn concerns, and considered Grannie and the feather-s

he situation. It is twelve shillings a week, four-four shillings more than Shaw used to give me. If only I can get Shaw to

up her lips, bu

, although an immense help, could not possibly do the

that things are so far good; but have you quite ma

I want two strings to my bow. By the way, I did not tell you t

d Grannie. "Sakes! yo

am. I have

girl of your breed ought to know, Alison. Poor as we ar

son. "I saw Mr. Squire, and he said he was sorry, but he reall

her little face puckered up in her intense an

quite as well, and he knew a woman who would do the things in a hurry. He said: 'Give my compliments to M

ng the old woman's heart at every word. "You place wonderful store by that feather-stitching, but th

the will o' the Lord. Somehow, that

e, but came back quite cheerful when the c

ing over her head, she would be more interesting and more worthy of criticism than ever. She dreaded beyond words being seen at Shaw's, more particularly by Louisa Clay and Jim Hardy. She crept in by a side entrance, and as the shop was very full at this hour (Christmas being so close at hand, the crowd this afternoon was denser than ever), she managed to escape attention. She could see without being noticed. She observed

e girl to herself. "I shall feel fit to kill those two if

nd she was able to ask a comparative stranger-a gi

s the reply. "The manager is too bu

here. I'll ask him m

the new shop-girl; but Alison

." He turned round with a smile on his lips. Things were doing remarkably well, and he could afford to be

e said, stepping b

I speak to yo

nd will come back once more," muttered the manager to himself. "She's the best and m

is own little counting-house. He shut the

s, eh? Well, all I can say is this: I am right glad that you know. We miss you, Miss Reed, in the shop. Your services have been of great value to us. I shall have the person who took

"that you had got someon

ng on a customer! You see, Miss Reed, I don't mean to flatter you, but you have got the tact, and just when the sales are beginning you will be invaluable. I can offer y

gave Alison ano

o is the thief?

the faintest idea who stole that money; I only know that I did not, and that nothing

ask what in the world you

is tiny counting-house, and

cannot of course come here, I natur

but that is n

et. I saw the manager this morning, and he said that he would give me the situatio

deliberate voice. "Do you suppos

, Mr. Shaw, you k

left here you forfeited your character. Yes, your attitude, let me tell you, Miss Reed, cuts both ways. If you don't choose to

you!" said Alison. "Sir, if

id Shaw. "I must go back

uptly, and Alison did not take

millstone. He won't give me a character until I am cleared; and, as I never shall be cleared, why, I'll never get

She patted her as if she were a baby; she stroked her soft hair, and kissed her hot cheeks, and laid her head on her own little shoulder, and made te

s subject could not but

he don't suspect you; he never will suspect you. You whisper 'yes' to him on Christmas night, dea