"I am afraid that it is true." She looked at him with wide-open eyes.
"But I don't understand," she said.

"I thought that there were societies who dealt with all that sort of thing, and behind, the--the workhouse." "So there are, Lady Sybil," he answered, "but you must remember that societies are no use unless people will subscribe to them, and that there are a great many people who would sooner starve than enter the workhouse." "But surely," she exclaimed, "there is no difficulty about getting money--if people only understand." He watched her for a moment in silence--suddenly appreciating the refinement, the costly elegance which seemed in itself to be a part of the girl, and yet for which surely her toilette was in some way also responsible.

Her white satin dress was cut and fashioned in a style which he was beginning to appreciate as evidence of skill and costliness.

A string of pearls around her throat gleamed softly in the firelight.

A chain of fine gold studded with opals and diamonds reached almost to her knees.