She pressed her hands to her head and rocked to and fro, while Ruby tried to quiet and comfort her.

“I must go to San Francisco and find my mother.  I would start to-morrow, lame as I am, only I haven’t the money, and grandma hasn’t it, either,” she said.  “Father made a great deal of money at times, but he spent it as freely.  Always stopped at the best hotels; had a suite of rooms, with our meals served in them; drank the costliest wines, and smoked the most expensive cigars, and bought mother such beautiful dresses.  I did not fare so well.  Anything was good enough for me after I refused to sing in public, and that was an added source of trouble to my mother.  I was always a bone of contention and it was, perhaps, as well in some respects that I was sent away, only mother missed me so.  I was so glad to get this school, because it would give me something for my mother, whom I hoped to bring home before long.  And now, I don’t know where she is, but I must find her.  Oh, what shall I do?”

It was not often that Eloise talked of herself and her affairs.  At school in Mayville she had been very reticent with regard to her past, and had seldom mentioned either her father or her mother.  With Mrs. Biggs she had been equally silent, and, try as she would, the good woman had never been able to learn anything beyond what Eloise had first told her,—­that her father was dead and her mother in California;—­in a sanitarium, Mrs. Biggs had finally decided, and let the matter drop, thinking she should some time know “if there was anything to know.”  Ruby Ann had from the first seemed to Eloise like one to be trusted, and she felt a relief in talking to her, and said more than she had at first intended to say.

For a moment Ruby was silent, while Eloise’s head lay on her arm and Eloise’s hand was holding hers.  She was thinking of the piano she wanted to buy, the money for which was in the Crompton bank.  There was a struggle in her mind, and then she said, “I can loan you the money.  I know you will pay it back if you live, and if you don’t, no matter.  I will not call it a loss if it does you any good.”

At first Eloise demurred, longing to accept the generous offer, and fearing that she ought not.  But Ruby overcame her scruples.

“Naturally I shall keep your place in school, so I owe you something for the business, don’t you see?” she said.

Eloise did not quite see, but she yielded at last, for her need was great.

“I don’t think I’d tell Mrs. Biggs all the sad story, unless you want the whole town to know it.  Tell her you have had bad news from your mother, and are going to her,” Ruby suggested, when at last she said good-night and went out, just as Mrs. Biggs came in.

“Goin’ away!  Goin’ to Californy!  Your mother sick!  What’s the matter, and how under the sun are you goin’ alone, limpin’ as you do?  I knew Ruby Ann would manage to keep the school if she once got it!” were some of Mrs. Biggs’s exclamations when told Eloise was to leave her.