"Why not? There is no reason against it when the motives are sound and good, as in your case I think it must be," Miss Norreys replied, half hoping that this would lead to further confidence. But Winifred did not speak, so she went on: "The chance I have to tell you of really _is_ a chance, though it may not sound very splendid. Through an old friend of mine, Mr Montague, you can have the offer of a post in the Reasonable Help Society, provided, of course, you can pass a certain examination. It is a very well-managed society: they try to kill two birds with one stone by engaging to do the work--charitable work, of course--girls like yourself, who--who feel they should do something for themselves, to be independent, and in many cases, with the hope of eventually helping their friends. "It is right they should be paid," said Miss Maryon, quickly. "I have thought a good deal about that. I don't believe in unpaid work." "I should be very sorry to make such a sweeping assertion," said Hertha, with a smile. "However, in this case, the question is not raised. You _will_ be paid--fifty pounds a year to begin, and the prospect of an increase, if all goes well. But remember," as she caught sight of a bright gleam of satisfaction lighting up Winifred's face, "fifty pounds are not a fortune. You are very inexperienced. I daresay it seems a great deal to you, but it won't go very far." "I am not so inexperienced as you think, dear Miss Norreys," said Winifred, quietly. "I shall be able to manage, and to have Celia with me before long. It is not the money, but the feeling that it is a _beginning_, something really to do, and that I shall take the greatest interest in. There is nothing I have more at heart than the problem of how to help without pauperising our lower classes I may be of more use to the Reasonable Help Society than would be thought likely," she concluded, with a funny little touch of self-assertion. "I hope so, I am sure--and with all my heart I hope the Reasonable Help Society will be of use to you. Then you decide on accepting it?--that is to say, on offering yourself as a candidate for the post?" "Oh dear, yes. Most certainly I do," said Winifred. "And I thank you a thousand times." "It was much more Mr Montague's doing than mine," said Hertha. "And, indeed, the whole thing was a chance--a lucky one, I trust." "And can you tell me when I must call at the office, or must I write, or what?" asked Winifred. "Yes," Miss Norreys replied. "Mr Montague sent full particulars. You must call any morning, but the sooner the better, at this address;" and she held out a paper. "I will go to-morrow," said Winifred. "And if you say that you have no home in London, the secretary will give you a list of lodgings where some of their employees live. Nothing very grand, of course, plain, but not uncomfortable, with thoroughly respectable people."