"Well, mother, I suppose I will have to do something very soon now," began the boy. "It won't do for me to remain idle when there is no money coming in."
Mrs. Dare sighed.
"I can't think of money matters yet, Richard," she replied, shaking her head sadly. "It is all so sudden, so unexpected, I cannot realize our terrible loss."
"There isn't a chance for any one in Mossvale," put in Nancy. She herself had been secretly wondering what they were going to do for support.
"So I told mother some time ago," responded Richard. "The few places here are all filled."
"Thought you were going to try New York?" said Grace, who was serving the tea.
"So I was. But—" The boy did not finish, but glanced over to where his mother sat.
"I could hardly bear to have you go away," said Mrs. Dare. "It would be so lonely—your father and you both out of the house. I would rather have you home, even if we had a good deal less to live upon."
"To-morrow I will go out and see what Mossvale has to offer," returned Richard. "In our circumstances it would not be right for me to waste any time."
"Do as you think best," was Mrs. Dare's reply. "You are old enough to think and act for yourself."