There was no time for anything, certainly not for cooking. They ate the cold Sunday joint as long as it lasted, and lived the rest of the week on bread and cheese, and Australian meat now and then. Grace got up before four every morning, and there was not much peace in bed for any one after that. Of course the shop had to be minded, and that Mrs. Hollis did, but she was expected to be at her needle at every spare moment; and for the needful cleaning and rougher work, Grace got a woman for a couple of hours who came cheap, because she did not bear a very good character. Mrs. Hollis did not much like having her about, but, as Grace said, one or other of them always had an eye upon her, and she was only there for a couple of hours in the morning. It was lucky kettles could boil themselves, or there might not even have been tea, and as to going to Mrs. Somers's working parties, Grace declared it to be impossible. "I've got something else to do," she said, decidedly. "The lady can't expect me to stand in my own light." And when she saw Jessie on Friday evening put away her work and fetch her hat and books, she cried out against such idling, and said it must be given up. "No," said Jessie. "I can't give up my Church and my preparation with Miss Manners." "Nonsense! You see I've given up my working party." "Yes; but I can't give up mine," said Jessie. "Oh, Grace, we thought so much about trying to do what we could." "And so I am!" said Grace. "No one can say I am not doing my duty to my family, and that's better than throwing away my time on a lot of beggarly folk that don't deserve nothing. And you ought to know better, Jessie." "I must have my lesson prepared," said she in return. "As if you couldn't teach that there Bell girl without going to read with Miss Manners first! You'll never have those handkerchiefs done!" "I did two letters extra this morning," said Jessie. "Ah, that's very fine, but if you get one of your headaches----" The sound of that word alarmed Mrs. Hollis. Jessie had had a bad illness about a year ago, and the mother could not part with her anxiety about her. In she came, with the tea-cup she was washing in her hand. "Has Jessie got a headache?" she inquired. "Oh no, mother, thank you. Grace is only putting a case." "Yes; I am asking her what she thinks will become of the work if she is to go and take her pleasure whenever she likes. She talks of working extra; but supposing she had a headache, she'd be sorry she had thrown away her time." "Dear, dear," said Mrs. Hollis; "'tis the very way to make her have a headache to keep her poor nose to the grindstone. The doctor, he says to me, 'She've had a shock, and she'll require care, and not to be overstrained.' And I tell you, Grace, I won't have Jessie put upon, and kept muzzing over her needle like a blackamoor slave, without a taste of fresh air. So run away, Jessie, and get your walk." "Thank you, mother."