When we lived in Spain she used to help every beggar we came across, and Spain is a land of beggars.

She never can resist an appeal for charity." There was a sudden silence.

Then Grace said gently, although she felt irritated at Eleanor's careless speech: "I don't think Mabel Allison could really be called a beggar; and if we adopt her, we ought never to let her think that we consider her a dependent.

Of course we know very little about her yet, but I think she will prove worthy.

I am to see her to-morrow, and perhaps it would be better to talk a little more with her before we tell Jessica's father about it." Eleanor looked at Grace with an amused smile.
"How serious you girls are," she said.