Still, she held it a duty to give what help she could, knowing how necessary it was that Jessie should, if possible, qualify herself to earn a living.

The first thing after breakfast on Tuesday morning she set forth to visit her friends.

It was not quite ten o'clock when she reached the house, and she looked forward with some assurance of hope to finding the family alone.

Jessie herself opened the door, and Emily; passing at once into the sitting-room, discovered that not only had a visitor arrived before her, but this the very person she would most have desired to avoid.

Mr.Richard Dagworthy was seated in conversation with Mrs.Cartwright and her daughters or rather he had been conversing till Emily's arrival caused a momentary silence.