"I don't know how to work, and I won't starve either," cried Zell passionately. "I shall write to Mr. Van Dam this very day and tell him all about it."
"I would rather work my fingers off," retorted Edith scornfully, "than have a man come and marry me out of charity, finding me as helpless as if I were picked up off the street, and on the street we should soon be, without shelter or friends, if we sold this place."
And so the blow fell upon them, and such was the spirit with which they bore it.
CHAPTER XV
THE TEMPTATION
The same mail brought them a long bill from Mr. Hard, accompanied with a very polite but decisive note saying that it was his custom to have a monthly settlement with his customers.
The rest of the family looked with new dismay and helplessness at this, and Edith added bitterly:
"There are half a dozen other bills also."
"What can we do?" again Mrs. Allen cried piteously. "If you girls had only accepted some of your splendid offers—"
"Hush, mother," said Edith imperiously. "I have heard that refrain too often already," and the resolute practical girl went to her room and shut herself up to think.