My dear Molly, how could I refuse ?" Molly made no reply, but her silence was somehow tragic.
"Think of mother," the elder girl went on, "and the children.

How could I possibly refuse--even if I wanted ?" "Yes," said Molly; "I see.

But I quite thought you were in love with Jim Freeman." In the silence that followed this blunt speech she turned to look searchingly at her sister.

Molly was just twenty, and she did the entire work of the household with sturdy goodwill.

She possessed beauty that was unusual.