"Oh, aboot the Bible school an' the parties, an' how ye wants tae dae somethin' fer the lasses." Then Esther briefly outlined her plans, during which they occasionally interrupted her by questions or comments. "Do you mean, schoolma'am, that y're willin' to learn us outside o' school hours?" "Yes." "Y're mighty good. I love ye already," said one lass. "But we're sae auld," said Jessie. "No, you're not. You're not old,--not too old to study." "Yes, schoolma'am, that's what mother used tae say," said Jessie in a softer tone. She turned her face aside. Another girl whispered to Esther, "Her father killed her mother when he was drunk." Esther slipped her arm around Jessie's waist, and continued to speak her plans, and how much their co-operation would mean to her. "Git y'r pardners!" shouted the fiddler. Soon the lasses were led away to the dance; and for the time, nothing more was said of their plans; but Esther Bright knew that of all the days' work she had done in Gila, this would probably count the most. The rooms were now crowded with people. The huge candles burned lower; the air grew more stifling; the noise more tiring. As she looked up, she met the gaze of a young English girl, who flushed and turned her eyes away. An instant later, Kenneth Hastings seated himself by Esther and began speaking. "I was glad to see you talking with the cowlasses, for they need the gentle, refining influence that you can bring them." He was evidently deeply in earnest. "You have no idea how full of peril their life is. You see there is something in this bold, free life of exposure that almost unsexes a woman. Some of the cowlasses are good-hearted, honest girls, but many are a hard lot. Your womanly influence would help them." As he spoke, he caught sight of the girl who, a moment before, had attracted Esther's attention. "Do you see that girl with the cameo-like face?" he asked. "Yes." "I have been hoping you could save that child. She can't be more than seventeen, if she is that. What her previous history is I do not know; but it is evident she has had gentle breeding." "What a sweet face she has!" "Yes. Lovely, isn't it? Like a flower." "What is her name?" Esther looked sympathetically at the girlish figure. "Earle--Carla Earle. She lives at Keith's. I see her often with Mark Clifton, a young Englishman here. He is a wild fellow. She is shy of everyone else." "Poor child!" said Esther, glancing toward her. "I made bold to speak to her one day, and invited her to come to your Bible school. I believe if you could meet her you would be her salvation." Esther looked up with a grave question in her eyes. "Well?" he asked. "You invite her to come to the Bible school, but do not come yourself, do not offer to help." "It does seem inconsistent, doesn't it? I will try to explain." He studied the cracks in the floor.