"Prosperity came to me as God's gift.

It so happens that I am now a rich man and I suppose even rich people can find their mission.

The girls at present are poor; our cases are in no way parallel.

Oh! how gladly I would help them, but believe me, I would help them to keep their independence." Mrs.Ellsworthy frowned.
"If you are going to thwart me, Arthur, I am done," she said.
"Can you not help them without adopting them ?" asked Arthur.
"Oh! my dear boy, what am I to do?
I know lots of influential people, but I can't go to them and say, 'I know three charming girls; they are all as ignorant as possible; they don't know any of our manners and customs; they are not educated up to the required standard; they are fearfully independent.

Will you, my dear friend, take the eldest into your family, and give her a governess's salary, although she cannot teach?
and will you, my other beloved friend, speak to the editor of the magazine you most admire, and ask him to accept poems which do not scan, and stories which are the feeble productions of an ambitious child?
And will you, my last friend, come to the rescue by employing a certain sweet little girl to look after your kittens ?' Arthur, how can those girls be independent unless they are taught ?" "Still I believe the girls can be helped; and that it is the right and only thing to do," said Noel.