"Hoity-toity! So it's you that are spakin', is it?" said Mrs. Flanagan, with her arms akimbo. "You can talk, anyway, if you can't work. All you do is to sit here all day long, while your sister is wearin' out her fingers wid the needle." It was a cruel blow to the poor girl, who needed no reminder of what she often thought about with bitter regret and mortification. She did not retort angrily, but, turning sadly to her sister, said: "I am afraid it's true, Rose; I am only a burden and an expense to you. I do nothing to help you." Now it was Rose's turn to be angry. "Are you not ashamed, Mrs. Flanagan, to twit my poor sister with what is her misfortune, not her fault?" she exclaimed, with flushed face and sparkling eyes. "She would gladly work, if she could." "It's ashamed I'm to be, am I?" retorted Mrs. Flanagan, viciously. "I pay my bills, anyhow, and it's ashamed I'd be if I didn't. I don't want no more talk from the like of you. It's money I want." "Here are fifty cents, and I will try to get you the rest to-day," said Rose, sadly. "Them that wear gold rings can pay their rint, if they want to," was Mrs. Flanagan's parting shot, as she slammed the door behind her. Rose looked at the plain gold ring on her finger. It had been her mother's ring, and for that she valued it above its intrinsic value. "I can't part with this," she murmured, with moistened eyes. "Yet, is it right to keep it when we owe money?" "Don't part with mother's ring, whatever you do, Rose," said her sister, hastily. "But have we a right to keep it?" asked Rose, doubtfully. "Yes, a thousand times, yes! That woman can wait for her money. We cannot part with this legacy of our dying mother." "But she may put us out into the street," said Rose, shuddering. "Is there nothing else by which we can raise money?" said Adeline, realizing their situation. "Money is due me for two vests. As a general thing, Walton & Co. don't pay me till I hand in half a dozen, but perhaps they would make an exception in this case." "That would be but seventy cents. It would not make up what we owe Mrs. Flanagan." "It might induce her to wait for the rest," said Rose. "If you don't mind staying alone a little while, Addie, I will wrap them up and carry them to the store." "Go, if you like, Rose. I always miss you, but I cannot expect to keep you here with me all the time." Rose wrapped up the two completed vests, and putting on her hat, kissed her sister and went down stairs. It was not far to the great store, which we have already entered with Ben. Entering, Rose walked to the back part of the store and took the elevator to the second floor, where she found the superintendent of the work-room. She made known her request. "Quite out of the question, miss," said the superintendent, sharply. He was a hard-featured man, who was a good man of business, but was not open to sentimental consideration. "Didn't you know our rules?" he asked.