Elma ran briskly upstairs. Turning to her right, she knocked at a certain door; waited for an answer, but none came; then turned the handle and went in. The Venetian blinds were down here, and the form of a woman was seen lying in the center of a big bed. "Is that you, Elma?" said a voice; and then the head was buried once more in the pillows, and no further notice whatever was taken. "Yes, mother, I am here," answered Elma. "I was thinking you might like something nice for your supper--a crab or a lobster, or something of that sort. Which would be your preference, mother?" "A crab or a lobster!" muttered Mrs. Lewis. "You might as well ask me if I should like a bottle of champagne, or some caviare. One is about as likely to be forthcoming as the other." "I tell you you may choose," said Elma. "I have my hat still on, and I'll go as far as the fishmonger's, and bring in either a lobster or a crab." Mrs. Lewis raised herself on her elbow as Elma spoke. "What are you dreaming about?" she said. "Where have you got the money?" "Never mind. I have got the money. Which Would be your preference?" "Oh, crab, dear; crab. I like it when it's well dressed; but then Maggie never can do anything properly." "I'll dress it on this occasion," said Elma. "You shall have a good supper--crab and salad, and--There mother, do keep up heart again; you give way too much." "Ah, child," said poor Mrs. Lewis, "I have had another terrible letter. He says he is starving; he cannot get work. I made the greatest possible mistake in allowing him to leave the country." "You could do nothing else," said Elma, with a little stamp of her foot. "You know he would not help you in any way; he had to leave. But there, mother, you shall tell me the dismal news after tea. You will feel ever so much better when you have partaken of the dainty meal I mean to get for you." Mrs. Lewis did not say anything further. Elma bent down, touched her parent on her brow with the lightest possible caress, and then stepped on tiptoe out of the room. "Poor mother!" she muttered. "It is surprising the kind of things that comfort one; she is soothed at the thought of crab for supper with salad. Well, that is all right; she will be as amiable and petting to me as possible for the rest of the day. Now, then, for Carrie. A loose, untidy, badly, hung together girl like Carrie is a trial to any sister. However, I know the sort of thing that pleases her. I must be very careful of my treasure-trove. I shall not spend it lightly; but in giving my family small unexpected surprises it will be doing me an immensely good turn." Elma now entered the room where Carrie was fuming up and down. "Well, what have you to say for yourself, miss?" she cried, when her younger sister put in an appearance. "Only that I am very sorry, Carrie; but to be honest with you, I quite forgot that you wanted to go out this afternoon. Did I not tell you that I was engaged to tea at Gwin Harley's?"