"I've shown you how to keep your torch burning--that is all. Now you must hold it high to light the way for others; for you know, dear, there are others in our Camp Fire who are stumbling in dark and stony pathways, and we--you and I--must help them too, to find the lighted way." "O, I'll try, Miss Laura, I will," Olga promised, and in her voice now there was determination as well as humility. XIX CLEAR SHINING AFTER DARKNESS Sonia was an adept in thinking up remarks that carried a taunt or a sting, and she had one ready to greet her sister that night on her return; but as she looked up, she saw in Olga's face something that held back the provoking words trembling on her tongue. Instead she said, half enviously, "You look as if you'd had a fine time. What you been doing?" "Nothing but having a firelight talk with Miss Laura. That always does me good." "Hm!" returned Sonia. She wondered what kind of a talk it could have been to drive away the sullen gloom that had darkened her sister's face for days, and bring that strange shining look into her eyes. Sonia shrugged her shoulders. At least, Olga wouldn't hound her about finding work--not while she had that look in her eyes--and, with a mind at ease, Sonia went off to bed. She went out the next morning, but came back in the middle of the afternoon in a gay mood. "I didn't find any place," she announced, "but I had a good dinner for once. I met--an old friend." Something in her voice and her heightened colour awakened an indefinite suspicion in Olga's mind. "Who was it? Any one I know?" she asked. Sonia made no reply. She had gone into the bedroom to put away her hat and jacket. When she came back she spoke of something else, but all that evening there was a curious air of repressed excitement about her. "Oh, I forgot--the postman gave me a letter for you. It's in my bag," she exclaimed later, and bringing it from the other room, tossed it carelessly into her sister's lap. Olga read it and handed it back. "It concerns you. O, I do hope you'll get the place," she said. The note was from Miss Laura to say that the manager of one of the large department stores had promised to employ Sonia if she applied at once. "Isn't that fine!" Olga cried. "O--perhaps," Sonia returned with a chilling lack of enthusiasm. "O Sonia, don't act so about it," Olga pleaded. "You know you must get something to do. You will go to-morrow and see the manager, won't you--after Miss Laura has taken so much trouble for you?" "For _me_!" There was a sneer in Sonia's voice. "Much she cares for me. She did it for you--you know she did. You needn't pretend anything else." "I don't pretend--anything," Olga said, the brightness dying out of her face.