"Oh, DEAR!" groaned Alida mentally; "I wish she hadn't come." Then with a
flush of shame the thought crossed her mind, "She perhaps is a friendless and
homeless as I was, and , and 'him' is also her only hope. "Come in, Jane,"
she said kindly, "and tell me everything."

"Be you his new girl?"

"I'm his wife," said Alida, smiling.

Jane stopped; her mouth opened and her eyes twinkled with dismay. "Then he is
married, after all?" she gasped.

"Yes, why not?"

"Mother said he'd never get anyone to take him."

"Well, you see she was mistaken."

"She's wrong about everything. Well, it's no use then," and the child turned
and sat down on the doorstep.

Alida was perplexed. From the way Jane wiped her eyes with her wet sleeve,
she was evidently crying. Coming to her, Alida said, "What is no use, Jane?
Why are you crying?"

"I thought--he--might--p'raps--let me stay and work for him."

Alida was still more perplexed. What could be said by way of comfort, feeling
sure as she did that Holcroft would be bitterly hostile to the idea of keeping