Roger remained an hour or two, aiding the girls in trying to make the rooms more homelike, which, however, was rather a hopeless task.  Mr. Jocelyn, half stupefied by opium, retreated to one of the small dark closet bedrooms, and left the scene unembarrassed by his presence.  Roger remarked emphatically that the tenement was no place for them, but Mildred told him that the rent had been paid for a month in advance, and that they must try to endure it, adding, “The twenty-five dollars that you and Mr. Wentworth obtained for me has been, after all, a perfect Godsend.”

He was touched, and bound to her with bands of steel by the perfect trust she now reposed in him, and he determined to watch over her like an amiable dragon, making it his first and constant thought how to rescue them all from their wretched condition.  He was much surprised, however, when Mildred said to him, as he was preparing to leave, “Mr. Atwood, there is something I wish to say to you.  Will you let me walk a block or two with you, and then bring me back again?”

Roger tried to disguise his feelings by saying laughingly that he would “walk to Spuyten Duyvil” with her, but added, “You are too tired to go out at all to-night.  I will come to-morrow evening,” and he remonstrated so earnestly and kindly that she yielded, promising to rest much of the following day.

“Oh, Millie,” said her mother, with a faint smile, “it does my heart good to see that there is some one who knows how and has the will to take care of you.”

“Yes,” cried Belle, “this place is a perfect hole.  It’s not fit for nice girls to be seen in, and if Roger gives us a chance to get out of it you had better take it as soon as possible.  I give you fair warning.”

“What do you mean, Belle?” asked her mother.  Belle made no answer, but went to her closet bedroom with a morose, sullen look on her face.  The poor woman looked inquiringly at Mildred, who said soothingly, “Don’t worry, mamma.  Belle is a little tired and discouraged tonight.  She’ll be in a better mood in the morning.”

When all were sleeping from the fatigues of the day, she sat alone with clasped hands and eyes so wide and troubled that it seemed as if she could never close them again.  “Alas!” she sighed, “what must I do?  He is our good genius, and yet I must drive him away.  He must not sacrifice all his prospects for us.  It would be most cruel and unjust to let him do so.  I must reason with him and show him plainly that it would not be right, and absolve him from every shadow of blame for leaving us to such fate as God permits.  Because he is so generous and brave he shall not suffer a loss which he cannot now comprehend.”

At last, from utter weariness, she fell into a broken sleep.

CHAPTER XL

NEIGHBORS

Promptly the following evening Roger appeared, and with glowing cheeks told his friends that Mr. Wentworth had found him employment in a lawyer’s office, which would enable him to pay his way and at the same time give him much practical insight into his chosen profession.  Mildred looked at him wistfully, but her resolution was not shaken, and they went out together, Roger saying, with a smiling nod at Belle, “It will be your turn to-morrow evening.”