It would be a disgrace to the family." "No," said Hilary, clasping tightly her eldest sister's hand--they two had already talked the matter over: "I can not see any disgrace.
If our family is so poor that the women must earn their living as well as the men, all we have to see is that it should be honestly earned.

What do you say, Ascott ?" She looked earnestly at him; she wanted sorely to find out what he really thought.
But Ascott took it, as he did every thing, very easily.

"I don't see why Aunt Selina should make such a fuss.

Why need you do anything, Aunt Hilary?
Can't we hold out a little longer, and live upon tick till I get into practice?
Of course, I shall then take care of you all; I'm the head of the family.

How horribly dark this room is!" He started up, and gave the fire a fierce poke, which consumed in five minutes a large lump of coal that Hilary had hoped--oh, cruel, sordid economy--would have lasted half the evening.
She broke the uneasy silence which followed by asking Johanna to give her opinion.
Johanna roused herself and spoke: "Ascott says right; he is the head of the family, and, by-and-by.