The sun., 1893-11-23
CHAPTER v,

A4lSS bNI OlAl 1SA USSl 1OI ACl
friend, and neither by nature nor by
habit was she easily discouraged or
batf1ed. Nevertheless, after more than
months endeavOr to get some one to
employ Mrs. Jack as daily governess,
she began to despair. But she took
care not to report to the young widow
the manner in which CodlingtOn in
general looked upon her project.
Employ Mrs. Jack Lilly as govern
essw cried one. Il should as soon
think of employing the baby in the
nursery. Not that she is so extremely
young in years. A great many of those
girliSh airs are put on. But I should be
very sorry to see my children copy her
firty manners"
Mrs. Jack Lilly ought to be asham-
ed of herself" exclaimed another;
hawking her advertisements about
CodlingtOn! I'm sure I pity the Per-
cival House people. There is ne say
ing what a headstrong woman like
that may do next to disgrace the fam
ily."
I'm sorry I can't patronize your
friend, Miss Barnasconi, said a third,
giving back one Of Bells poor little
OuI yOu SSC Ctl1 very
mate with the Lillys, and it would be
too unpleasant for me to have her here
as govemess; for I happen to know
from Rebecca Lilly that the family en-
tirely disapprove Of her teaching. And,
you know, it is quite unnecessary. 1t
is merely done out of temper, because
her father-in-law won't encourage her
in extravaganza. All, yes; dare say
she tells you differently. No doubt.
But Mrs Jack has her share of cum
ming, and she quite takes you In, you
kind, simple ereatuFer'
Then, as if by preconcerted arrange
ment, Bells tradesmen began to send
their bills in, in a more pressing man
ner than usual. She sat up night after
night, when Biddy and the child were
gone to bed, pnzzling herself over her
| accounts, and trying to discover bal
ance In her own favor. But the figures
were inexorable, and proved too plain
| ly that she owed more than she could
/ pay. Her debts were not large, but
they weighed heavily on her spirits
| She had act been to Percival House
since her interview with her mother
| in-law in the garden. But Mrs. Lilly
had sent her q basket of summer veg
| etables with her love, and Rebecca had
met her ia the street and had said,
How do you do, Bell? It is q long
| time since you came to see Hs." EN-
ma, indeed, had taken no notice Of her
| greeting; but then, when she had seen
Emma they had been on opposite sides
I of the street; and Emma was looking
into a shop window, and might not
have seen her.
ALI which reflections meant that Bell
was making up her mind to go once
more to Perciyal House. She would
ask Dir. Lilly to lend her some money,
if he would give none. She would
rather owe it to him than to the trades
| people, and perhaps he would take it
back by installmentS. And then when
| she got her pupils. Poor Bell sighed,
and cnaaged the phrase in her mind.
If she could en4y get some pupils,
things might go well with neg yet.
"Wel, I must go. I suppose" she
I said to herself one morning. She was
greatly depressed. A fresh bill had
just been sent ja, F9psy had appeared
with a great rent III her frock, and
| had to be patched and darned before
| it was possible to take her out for q
l walk. Popsy bore this misfortune
with the greatest equanimity. But it
went to her motheC's heart to- see the
child shabby. The Cod1ingtp9 Chroni-
Gle lay on the table, folded down 50 az
to show an advertisement beginning,
"a widow lady, Of good education, de.
siras to find daily pupils" etc. Bell
pushed 1t away impatiently. I'm
afraid Barney was right, and that Il
isn't bit of use my trying to earn any
money" she said, dismally.
A knock came at the door of her sit
ting room, and, on her Saying Come
in," Mr. Mills appeared in the door
way, holding a letter Ia his hand: Mr
Mills was a thin satuTnine-Tisageq
man, with blue-black stubble Of beard
on his shaved jaws. He was painting
and wipipg his forehead with n blue
checked handkerchief as he presented
the letter to Mrs. Jack with the Other
hand. He had taken the precautiea Of
wrapping it in bit of thin paper thai
1t might not be soiled by his inky fin
ger and thumb.
"A letter for me, Mr.. Mills?
Eyes, madam, + took the liberty OF
carrying 1t up myself without loss o1
time, thinking that 1t might be of con
sequence. 1t was directed care Of tht
Office, madam
"Oh, how very kind of you, Mr.. Mills
am afraid you have put yourself into
q great heat by coming so quickly
Thank you very, very much"
| mot at al, madam: hope you vii
excuse the liberty" S'''' 80
And Mr.. Mills modestiy withdrew
carrying with him the recollection O
a smile and blush, which danced
through the dingy printing Office al