Allison opened her purse, and took from it three dollars.
“Ellen,” she said, in a very winning tone, “I am going to give you that much to take to your aunt, so that she cannot blame you for the loss.”
“My! but ain’t you good!” breathed the girl, with a long, grateful sigh, as she reached eagerly for the money.
“Wait,” said Allison; “I will get an envelope from Doctor Ashmore to put it in—it will be safer so,” and going to the surgeon, who was now writing at his desk, she asked him to give her two.
She placed the three dollars in one, then returned to Ellen, to whom she gave it, and who hastily thrust it into the bosom of her dress.
“Now,” continued Allison, “I am sorry that I cannot know how you will get on with your arm, for I am going to leave the city for the summer to-morrow morning. But, of course, you will have to come to Doctor Ashmore occasionally, and I shall learn from him how you are, when I return, and perhaps then I can help you to find something to do in a pleasanter home——”
“Oh, would you?—will you?” cried the girl, with pathetic eagerness. “I should love you with all my heart for it.”
Allison was almost ready to weep as she met the wistful eyes uplifted to hers.
“I will try, if you will leave your address with Doctor Ashmore,” she replied, as she quietly slipped a ten-dollar bill into the other envelope; “and now I am going to give you this for your very own,” she continued, as she tucked her gift into Ellen’s hand; “you can do whatever you like with it.”