"You will help me, won't you? I remember mother saying before she died that there was only one member of father's family whom she believed in, and that was Cousin John Borlace, and he was a clergyman. And she told me if I got into any difficulty to go to him or to write, and he might help me to earn my living. And now I've come, and he seems frightened to death at the sight of me. "I only came home from school a year ago. I wish I could go back, but they won't have me. They say I upset the earnest atmosphere of the house. I can't be earnest, can you? But I've had an awful year. Father knows people whom mother would have never let inside the door. And last week, he married a music-hall girl, and they're coming home the end of this week. I won't eat a meal in the house with her. I told father I wouldn't. And I've come straight off, and I told our housemaid to send my luggage after me when I wired her my address. Now, ought not parsonages to be places of refuge? I don't see how Cousin John can turn me out, especially as he has a nice spare bedroom ready for use. I slept in it last night. And I shall be awfully useful to him if he will let me stay. I can do anything from cooking to typewriting, and I'll run the whole parish for him, too." "There's nothing like self-advertisement," said Sidney, laughing. Jockie joined her in the laugh. "Well, I could help him to do it, then. I want to be useful, Miss Urquhart—I really do. And I love children. Do go back and tell him that you like the looks of me extremely, and that you think he'd better take me on a month's trial. After that, we'll make other plans if necessary, but a month will give me time to look round. Perhaps you know someone who wants their library books sorted out and mended up and re-bound. I know a girl who got a job like that, and it lasted her three years, with board and lodging and seventy pounds a year. Not bad, was it? And I've learnt bookbinding, and love reading, so I would have the time of my life if you knew of such a billet." "You're a thoroughly modern young woman," said Sidney, looking at her with twinkling eyes. Then she put her hand caressingly on her arm. "If I promise to plead for you, will you promise to be very good to Mr. Borlace, and not upset his methodical, orderly household? I am very fond of him, and shouldn't like him to be worried at his time of life." Jockie gave Sidney an impulsive hug. "I know you'll be an angel to me! You show it in your face. I'll do anything and everything that Cousin John tells me, if he'll only give me a home pro tem." So Sidney left her and joined Mr. Borlace in his study. He was pacing up and down the room in great perplexity of spirit; but Sidney's persuasion was always successful. She soothed and comforted him, and finally told him that if Jockie proved a trial to him, he could send her to the Admiral's. "We will take her in for a time, for she wants befriending, poor child!"