Page:The Semi-detached House.djvu/213

 "Do you like that sort of work?" said Rachel, surveying both work and workers through her glass,

"Why, it is for papa," said Janet, with an air that showed she considered that answer to be a settler.

"But its being for papa does not make the actual needle-work less tedious."

"Does not it?" said Rose, looking at her with astonishment, "I should like to see the thing to be done for him—a dear as he is—that could possibly seem tedious. Besides, Janet and I never think anything tiresome that we work at together."

Rachel sighed. She had come purposely to see a happy family, and even these few sentences had struck the dark chord of her life.

"Have you never had the pleasure, Miss Monteneros, of finishing off what you thought a successful piece of work to give to somebody you loved dearly?" said Janet.

"Never," said Rachel, in a low voice, "and for the best of reasons, I have nobody