"You don't understand, Faith," said the other quickly. She had noticed the movement, and her tone showed that she was pained by it. "I'm afraid I don't." Faith said the words coldly. "I certainly don't understand dishonesty in the very least. I may be wrong, but I cannot excuse it. It is my duty to report that girl, and I shall certainly do it." "You shall not!" Miss Jennings had lost her apathy and indifference for once. She was locking Faith steadily in the eye, her own fairly burning with anger. "See here, Faith," she went on, "you have a whole lot to learn, and I guess I am just as well qualified to teach you as any one. What you don't know about dishonesty would fill a whole library of books. Promise me that you will say nothing about that matter until to-morrow, at least. Promise, Faith. It will do no harm. If you are a Christian you must have charity." Faith gazed at her earnestly for the space of a second. There was something besides anger in her new friend's eagerness. CHAPTER VII. FRESH GLIMPSES OF EVIL. "I promise," said Faith, after another moment's hesitation. "I will hear what you have to say on the subject, Mary, but I am sure I shall still think it right to report that theft to-morrow." Miss Jennings turned away with a relieved expression. The woman she had called "Kate" was just coming back behind the counter. "I've lost my job through my stupidity," she said sullenly. "Gibson says I am discharged for being impudent to him." "I'm sorry, but you might have known," replied Miss Jennings shortly. "Still, you haven't lost much; perhaps you'll get something better." "Well, I hope so, but there's not much chance at this season," said the woman. "Six dollars a week was better than nothing. It's more than I can make by taking in washing." "Oh, you surely won't have to do that!" cried Faith involuntarily. She had been listening to their conversation without realizing it. The woman glanced up at her and gave a sharp laugh. "That, or worse," she said coarsely. "I can't starve to death, can I?" There was no mistaking what she meant. Her words sent a thrill of horror through every fibre of Faith's body. "She surely did not mean that," she whispered to Miss Jennings as soon as the saleswoman had gone. "Why not?" asked Miss Jennings in her bitterest manner. For the second time that day Faith drew back with swift motion, but this time her companion did not appear to notice it. "She's got a sick husband and three children," she said sharply; "and it's no fault of hers that she can't earn an honest living. I tell you, Faith, that you have lots to learn. I'm sorry you must learn it all in a lump, of course, but the sooner it is learned the sooner you'll get used to it." She breathed a deep sigh as she turned away. For a moment her real feeling showed above her indifference. "Get used to it--never!" cried Faith, almost hysterically. "And you are not used to it, either, Mary; it is killing you this minute!"