Mab raised her head from her sister's shoulder, and looked at Cicely with great tender believing eyes. The two forlorn young creatures had nobody to help them; but the one trusted in the other, which was a safeguard for the weaker soul; and she who had nobody to trust in except God, felt that inspiration of the burden which was laid upon her, which sometimes is the strongest of all supports to the strong. Her voice still faltered a little, and her eyes glistened, but she put what was worse first, as a brave soul naturally does. "Mab, you must go--it is the best--you are always happy with your work, and Aunt Jane will be very kind to you; and the sooner you can make money, don't you see? It would not do to go back to school, even if Miss Blandy would have us, for all we could do there was to keep ourselves. Mab, you are so clever, you will soon now be able to help; and you know, even if papa gets something, there will always be the little boys." "Yes, I know," said Mab, subdued. "O Cicely, don't be vexed! I should like it--I know I should like it--but for leaving you." Cicely's bosom heaved with a suppressed sob. "You must not mind me. I shall have so much to do, I shall have no time to think; and so long as one can keep one's self from thinking!--There now, that is settled. I wanted to say it, and I dared not. After that--Mab, don't ask me my plans! I am going round this very day," cried Cicely, springing to her feet, "to all those people we owe money to." This sudden movement was half the impulse of her vivacious nature, which could not continue in one tone, whatever happened, and, half an artifice to conceal the emotion which was too deep for her sister to share. Cicely felt the idea of the separation much more than Mab did, though it was Mab who was crying over it; and the elder sister dared not dwell upon the thought. "I must go round to them all," said Cicely, taking the opportunity to get rid of her tears, "and ask them to have a little patience. There will be another half-year's income before we leave, and they shall have all, all I can give them. I hope they will be reasonable. Mab, I ought to go now." "Oh, what will you say to them? Oh, how have you the courage to do it? _O Cicely!_ when it is not your fault. It is papa who ought to do it!" cried Mab. "It does not matter so much who ought to do it," said Cicely, with composure. "Some one _must_ do it, and I don't know who will but me. Then I think there ought to be an advertisement written for the _Guardian_." "Cicely, you said you were to stay with papa!" "It is not for me; it is for papa himself. Poor papa! Oh, what a shame, what a shame, at his age! And a young man, _that_ young man, with nothing to recommend him, coming in to everything, and turning us out! I can't talk about it," cried Cicely. "The best thing for us is to go and do something. I can make up the advertisement on the way."