"O, how good, how kind you are! how shall I ever be able to thank you ?" "Don't thank me at all," said Miss Ercildoune, "at least not now.

Wait till I have done something to deserve your gratitude." But Sallie was not to be silenced in any such fashion, and said her say with warmth and meaning; then, after some further talk about time and plans, went away carrying a bit of work which Miss Ercildoune had found, or made, for her, and for which she had paid in advance.
"God bless her!" thought Sallie; "how nice and how thoughtful she is! Most ladies, if they'd done anything for me, would have given me some money and made a beggar of me, and I should have felt as mean as dish-water.

But now"-- she patted her little bundle and walked down the street, elated and happy.
Francesca watched her out of the door with eyes that presently filled with tears.

"Poor girl!" she whispered; "poor Sallie! her lover has gone to the wars with a shadow between them.

Ah, that must not be; I must try to bring them together again, if he loves her dearly and truly.