The hideous conception of existence which regards each individual as fighting for his own hand, striving for dear life against every other individual, was ingrained in their minds by the inveterate bitterness of their own experience; when Emily had become a woman, and was gone forth to wrest from the adverse world her own subsistence, her right to what she earned was indefeasible, and affection itself protested against her being mulcted for their advantage.

As for the slight additional expense of her presence at home during the holidays, she must not be above paying a visit to her parents; the little inconsistency was amiable enough.

Father and mother both held forth to her in the same tone: 'You have the battle of life before you; it is a terrible one, and the world is relentless.

Not only is it your right, but your very duty, to spare every penny you can; for, if anything happened to prevent your earning money, you would become a burden upon us--a burden we would gladly strive to bear, but the thought of which would be very hard for yourself.

If, on the other hand, your mother were left a widow, think how dreadful it would be if you could give her no assistance.