Chapter X: Kathleen Is a Source of Grave Anxiety

THE autumn months proved wet and dreary. Winter with its sharp frosts and chilling mists set in early, and Molly was thankful for the warm frock which her kind friend had provided for her.

Kathleen was now fully engaged at the theatre. But Molly reaped small advantage from her increased earnings, for her sister loved to squander her money in useless finery.

Little Molly was growing more and more uneasy on her sister's account. She scarcely knew what it was that she feared, but she had a vague notion that Kathleen's character was suffering from her connection with the theatre, and the associates she found there. It was in vain Molly tried to speak of the Saviour to Kathleen. She only laughed at Molly's "pious" ways, and refused to hear a word of what she called "cant."

How could Molly guard her sister from evil? There was one way, and only one way, in which she could help Kathleen.

She was weak and helpless, but the unseen Friend was strong and mighty. Surely Jesus would take care of Kathleen; and in faith that He would, the child daily confided her sister to the Saviour's care.

Kathleen had no idea of the anxiety with which Molly's heart was burdened on her account. She was in excellent spirits at this time, cherishing bright though delusive visions of a happy future.

Once or twice she dropped hints of a delightful secret which Molly did not share, and seemed ever in a flutter of excitement and gaiety. Molly wondered at her sister's manner, and could not understand it. But at last, its meaning was explained.

"Look, Molly!" cried Kathleen, in a joyous tone one night, when they had come back from the theatre, and had just parted from Mr. Vavasour—"Look here!" And she held up to view a beautiful pair of pearl earrings.

"Oh, Kathleen, what pretty things!" cried Molly, in surprise. "Where did you get them?"

"I neither found them nor stole them," returned her sister, triumphantly. "Mr. Vavasour gave them to me. Isn't he kind?"

"They are very pretty," said Molly. Yet somehow she did not like them so well, when she heard who had given them.

"How do they look?" asked Kathleen, as she fitted them into her ears, which had long been bare of such ornaments.

Molly was forced to confess that they looked very grand indeed.

"Ain't they splendid?" exclaimed Kathleen, as she peered into the little cracked looking-glass, which was the only mirror the sisters could boast. "Oh, Molly, wouldn't it be nice to be a rich lady, and have money to buy lots of lovely things?"

"Yes; I'd like to be a lady," said little Molly. "I know what I'd do if I were rich," she added, softly; "I'd find out all the poor little girls that hadn't no fathers nor mothers to take care of them, and I'd give them warm clothes to wear, and nice things to eat and drink, and I'd be ever so good to them."

"But wouldn't you like to buy yourself silk frocks and laces and feathers?" asked Kathleen.

"I don't know," replied Molly; "all the gay clothes in the world wouldn't make much difference to my looks, I guess; so it wouldn't be any use my buying them, you see."

"But I should look well in them," cried Kathleen; "and I can tell you, Molly, I mean to be a lady some day, and that before very long."

"'You' a lady!" exclaimed Molly, opening her eyes wide. "What do you mean, Kathleen?"

"I will tell you," said Kathleen. "I've wanted to tell you for days, but I didn't like. Now, Molly, you must not cry or make a fuss. I'm going to leave you."

Molly could not believe her ears.

"To leave me!" she exclaimed, in amazement. "How? When? I don't understand."

"I am going to leave you to-morrow," returned her sister, with cruel distinctness. "I am going away to learn to be a first-rate actress. There's a fine time before me. I shall be quite a lady, and wear pretty dresses, and have plenty of nice things to eat and drink. Mr. Vavasour has arranged it all; he's so good to me, is Mr. Vavasour. He has set his heart on seeing me a splendid actress. What is the matter, Molly? Why do you look like that?"

Molly's face had grown very pale, and there was a look in her eyes which Kathleen could not bear to see.

"Oh, Kathleen, you cannot mean it?" she exclaimed, coming close to her sister and clasping her tightly, as though she would never let her go. "You cannot mean to go and leave me—me, Molly, your little sister, who has no one else to love her? Oh, Kathleen, you cannot do it!"

"But, Molly, it is for my good, and for your good, too, in the end," said Kathleen. "Think what a fine thing it is for me. I shall learn to be a splendid actress, and then I shall earn heaps of money. And I am not going away from you altogether. I shall come and see you sometimes, and bring you some of the money I earn. Mr. Vavasour kept saying what a good thing it would be for you as well as for me. You would not have me give up such a fine chance, surely?"

"Not if it was really for your good," said Molly, tremulously; "but oh, Kathleen, I can't believe it. I don't like that Mr. Vavasour: he looks a horrid bad man. I wouldn't trust what he says, if I were you."

"Nonsense, Molly, what can you know of him?" was Kathleen's quick retort. "I can tell you he is a good friend to me."

"Do you think father would have liked you to make a friend of Mr. Vavasour?" asked Molly.

"I don't know," replied Kathleen. But her heightened colour seemed to show that she did know.

"Oh, I'm sure father would not have liked it," said Molly, earnestly; "and he would not have liked you to leave me. He said I was always to take care of you; and how can I take care of you if you go away?"

"Don't talk rubbish!" returned Kathleen. "I'm quite old enough now to take care of myself."

"But what shall I do all alone?" urged Molly. "Won't you think of that, Kathleen?"

"You'll manage well enough," said her sister, looking away from Molly as she uttered the unkind words.

Molly's heart failed her, and she burst into tears.

"Now, don't cry like that!" exclaimed Kathleen, in a tone which betrayed some emotion. "It's all settled, and can't be altered, so it's of no use to make a fuss. I don't like leaving you, but there's no help for it. I asked Mr. Vavasour if I could not take you with me, but he said that was impossible. I'll come and see you as often as ever I can, and bring you lots of nice things; so cheer up."

But Molly could not cheer up. How could she bear to think of Kathleen's leaving her? What would life be worth to her without Kathleen? She could not picture to herself the desolation that would follow.

Her tears fell fast, till Kathleen, weary of seeing her weep, proposed that they should go to bed. They slowly undressed, and lay down side by side; both with heavy hearts, for Kathleen felt many gloomy forebodings, in spite of the bright anticipations she had professed.

Then, in the darkness, Molly confided her sorrow to the unseen Friend, trying to believe that He would help her in this sore trouble. It seemed as if everything were going wrong; yet surely He could set all right. But would He?

"'Lord, I believe: help Thou my unbelief,'" prayed little Molly.

Comfort came with prayer. The load which pressed upon her heart was lightened: she ceased to sob, and was fast forgetting her sorrow in sleep, when she felt Kathleen's arm softly stealing around her.

"Molly," Kathleen whispered, "I'm real sorry to leave you, but it can't be helped now. You've been a good little sister to me, and I love you; I do indeed, for all I've so often been cross with you. Kiss me, Molly."

Molly turned in a moment, and throwing her arms about her sister's neck kissed her again and again. Then nestling close together, the two poor children fell asleep.