ctions very strong. Priscilla had a rather commonplace past, but it was the sort of past to foster and deepen the peculiarities of her character. Her father

debt; they considered luxuries bad for the soul and t

ty bank and invested them to the best of his ability. The bank broke, and in one fell stroke he lost all the saving

re three little sisters several years younger. They were merry little children, strong, healthy

e from her home far away on the borders of Devonshire, and told the four desolate

very frank manner.

ly fair to tell you that hitherto I've just made two ends meet for one mouth alone, and how I'm to fill four extra ones the Lord knows, but

long, solemn pause; "we can do with very little food- ver

for Prissie was taller than her aunt e

ht all to be hearty, and I hope you will be. No, no, it isn't tha

them," answe

le Yorkshire maiden. Nobody thought about the children's education, and they might have grown up without any were it not for Priscilla, who taught them what she knew herself. Nobody thought Priscilla clever; she had no brilliance about her in any way, b

a box of her father's old books, and as these comprised several of the

yes as she raised them to return Mr. Hayes' courteous greeting. His attention was arrested by the look she gave him. He questioned her about her reading, and presently offered to help her. From this hour Priscilla made rapid progress. She was not taught in the ordinary fashion, but she was bei

onclusions; he encouraged her really original ideas; he was proud of his pupil, and he grew fond of her. It

old wainscoted parlor of the cottage, devouring a book lent to her by Mr. Hayes on the origin of the Greek drama and occasionally bending to kiss little Katie, who sat cur

ion and Katie in the other. In a momen

aby?" she asked ten

an opened her

ove," she said. "Perhaps i

ntly and seemed something like herself, but that evening the aunt and n

om, "to see how you have construed that passage in Cice

ow and then found herself indulging in. "I don't care if Cicero is at the bottom of the sea. I don'

will forgive your profane words about Cicero,

Will you help me? You have always b

lp you. What is wron

ted in the hayf

truly concerned. Would she like

l to-day- quite w

Raby is not the first woman who has fainted and go

yes. Aunt Raby has got out of h

, the features irregular. Even her eyes- and perhaps they were Prissie's best point- were neither large nor dar

irl's thin unformed

s on your mind. Tell your old friend- your

kill her soon; she might live for years, but every year she would grow a little weaker and a little less capable of toil. As long as she lived the little

Hattie and Rose and Katie whenever Aunt Raby goes. I must earn money as soon as it is possible for a girl to do so, and I mu

uld be taking a directly opposite direction to the p

at the old rector. Then, clasping her hands tig

rage me to be sel

listen patiently to all you have to say. How do you

t of dres

make- the gown

, looking down at her un

et and smiled in the most

g. But my impression is that the style and cut of that dress

all over. "You know I sai

an earning her bread, let her turn to that path where promise lies. There is

ig forehead ligh

sure they afford, they will also give you bread and butter. Go home now and let me t

rned to effect his object. He thought Priscilla could do brilliantly as a teacher, and he resolved that for this purpose she should have the advantages which a collegiate life alone could offer to

face when one day she happened to see that Aunt Raby's poor little jewel case was empty. The jewels and the watch could certainly not fetch much, but

t and the old rector good-by and st