“It seems I can’t help myself.” Sonia’s voice was still sulky.
“Will you? I must have your promise,” Olga insisted, and finally Sonia flung out an angry,
“Yes!”
Thereafter Olga worked at home and her sister went out morning or afternoon—sometimes both; but she found no position.
“They all want younger girls—chits of sixteen or seventeen,” she complained, “or else those who have had large experience. They won’t give me a chance.”
Olga crowded down her doubts. Perhaps it was all true—perhaps Sonia really had honestly tried, but the doubts would return, for she felt that her sister was quite content to let things remain as they were as long as Olga made no further protest. But others were not content with things as they were. Elizabeth was not, nor Lizette. Laura met Lizette on the street one day and learned all that the girl could tell her of Olga’s trouble.
“She’s so changed!” Lizette said, her eyes filling. “When we came home she was so happy, and so full of plans for Camp Fire work, and now—now she takes no interest in it at all. She won’t talk about it, or hardly listen when I talk.”
“I must see her,” Laura said. “I’ll take you home now,” and when they reached the house, Lizette ran eagerly up the stairs to give Miss Laura’s message.
“I’ve come to invite you to another tea party—with Jim and me,” Laura said when Olga appeared. “You will come—to-morrow night?”
“Thank you, but I can’t,” the girl answered gravely.