On this, Flossie, finding that May was unmistakably preparing herself for a nice comfortable faint, went stormily away, and rolled off in her grand carriage, looking like a thunder-cloud. May recovered immediately. "I really don’t envy Flossie’s husband the rest of his life," she remarked. "What a comfort she has gone away! Well, Ma, dear, I came in to have a quiet talk with you, and that tiresome girl has upset you. I would not take any notice if I were you, dear. I don’t suppose Flossie means it. But she is so impetuous, and she’s so jealous of Sarah. I’m sure I don’t know what you ever did to upset her, Sarah; but you and I were always the best of friends." "The best of friends, May," said Sarah; then bent down and kissed her cousin’s soft ungloved hand. "I didn’t mean to speak, not to say a word--but she was so unkind to poor Auntie--and, May, it is hard on Auntie after all this"--looking round the room--"and her beautiful carriages and horses, and her kind husband who was so fond of her, to have just three hundred a year to keep five children on. It is hard." Poor Mrs. Stubbs broke down and began to sob instantly. "Sarah puts it all so beautifully," she said. "That’s just as it was--your poor Pa--and----" but then she stopped, unable to go on, choked by her tears. "Now, Ma, dear, don’t," May entreated; "we don’t know why everything is. It might have been worse, you know, dear; just think, if you’d had Flossie at home." "Ah! it is a comfort to me to think Flossie is married," said Mrs. Stubbs, drying her eyes; "she’s never been like a child to me." "And there might have been nothing, you know; after all there is something, and you’ll be able to keep them all together. I shall help you all I can, Ma, dear; you know I shall do that! And if I can’t do much else, I can take you for drives, and see if I can’t help Minnie to get married. You’ll think it queer, Ma, dear, that I’m not just able to say ’I’ll give you a cheque for a hundred now and then.’ But I can’t. Life isn’t all roses for me either. Of course I have a grand house in Palace Gardens, and diamonds, and carriages, and all that; but Mr. Giath doesn’t give me much money; he isn’t like poor dear Pa. Of course he made a very big settlement--Pa insisted on that--but only at his death. I don’t get it now, and he pays my dress bills himself; and," with a sob, "I don’t find it all roses to be an old man’s darling. But I don’t want to trouble you with all that, Ma, dear; you’ve got enough troubles and worries of your own. But you’ll understand just how it is, won’t you, dear? And, of course, there’ll be many little ways that I shall be able to help you."