"I must write to mother," she said smilingly. "She quite depends on me for a bright chatty letter every day, and I've so much to tell her of to-day's amusing adventures. Really, do you know that Potwin-Pilcher person ought to go into a novel. She was positively unique!" Elizabeth was silent for some moments after the sound of Evelyn's light foot had passed from the stair. Then she turned a brooding face upon her husband. "I am so sorry for poor Evelyn," she said. Sam Brewster stirred uneasily in his chair. "So you said before she arrived," he observed. "I don't see anything about the fair Evelyn to call forth expressions of pity. She looks remarkably prosperous to me." "Yes; but you don't see everything, Sam. That gown is one she has had for years, and it has been cleaned and made over and over again." "Well; so have most of yours, my dear, and you don't ask for sympathy on that account." "Sam, dear, they haven't any money. Can't you understand? They lost everything when the Back-Bay Security Company failed. Evelyn doesn't know what to do. There is her mother to take care of and you know how helpless she is. I don't suppose she ever really did anything in her whole life." "It's a problem; I'll admit," agreed her husband, scowling over his unread paper; "but I don't see what we are going to do about it." "That's the worst of it, Sam; we really can't do anything, and I'm afraid other people won't. I had thought--if nothing else turned up--that perhaps Mrs. Tripp could be induced to go into a home. One of those nice, refined places where one has to pay to be admitted, and then Evelyn--might----" She paused and looked anxiously at her husband. "We might let her stay here, Sam; and----" He shook his head. "You're the most self-sacrificing of darlings when it comes to helping your friends," he said; "but I couldn't stand for that, Betty. Two weeks is about my limit, I'm afraid, when it comes to entertaining angels unawares. I'm willing to admit the unique character of Miss Tripp, and to vote her a most agreeable guest, and all that. But----" Elizabeth gazed at her husband understandingly. "I know, Sam," she said, "and I think so too. But----" XI "Mother, de-ar, can we go out to play in the back yard? I c'n put on my overshoes an' leggins, an' I c'n help Doris too, if you're busy." Elizabeth looked up from her task of cutting out rompers for her baby with a preoccupied sigh. "You have a little cold now, Carroll," she said doubtfully, "and if you should get wet in the snow----" "We won't get wet, mother. I pr-romise!" "Very well, dear; now remember!"