“Freedom from care!” repeated Margaret, smiling bitterly. “Yes, that is what I need, but where shall I find it?”
“With us,” answered Martha, gently.
“What!” exclaimed Margaret, fixing her eyes upon the seamstress in surprise, “would you be burdened with me?”
“We shall not consider it a burden,” said Helen, “and I am sure we ought to welcome an opportunity to be of service to any one of our fellow-creatures.”
“Yet,” said Margaret, suffering her eyes to wander about the room, with its plain and scanty furniture, “you cannot be rich—even one person must——”
“No, we are far from rich,” said Helen, divining what she would have said, “but neither are we very poor. I am paid quite a large salary for singing, and—and you must not think of the expense.”
“But I am a stranger to you,” said Margaret; “why are you so kind to me?”
“Because you are in trouble.”
“Perhaps I may make an ungrateful return. Suppose I should take the opportunity to rob you?”
Helen laughed merrily.