“There be two other women come to see you, miss,” said he. “One says as you told her to call.”
“I bade no one call,” said Emmie. “I am sorry, papa, that you should be thus disturbed at your meal.”
“I had better myself see what is the cause of this irruption of the Goths and Vandals,” observed Mr. Trevor, rising from his seat, and then quitting the room. Mr. Trevor had scarcely more experience than his daughter in dealing personally with the poor, but he felt heavy upon his conscience the responsibility belonging to the owner of landed property.
Mr. Trevor in a short time returned, looking grave and somewhat perplexed. “How one misses clergy, and district visitors, and organized societies in a place like this!” he exclaimed, as he resumed his seat at the table. “All these women declare that they are in want, that their husbands are out of work; and how am I to tell whether this be or be not the fact? I have given each of the beggars a trifle, and told them not to come here again, that we will make inquiries about them. I cannot have my door thus besieged. I wonder what brought on us this sudden invasion!”
“I’m afraid that it was my unlucky half-crown,” observed Emmie.
“To whom did you give a half-crown?” asked her father.
“I gave it at the first cottage to the left of the gate, beyond Harper’s wretched little den,” replied Emmie. She read something very unlike approbation in the eyes of her parent, and shrank from their questioning gaze.
“What! you gave it at the cottage of Blunt, the man who earns higher wages than almost any one else in the place!” cried Mr. Trevor, slightly raising his voice.
“The cottage did not look very comfortable,” said Emmie in an apologetic tone. She felt that the excuse was scarcely sincere, for the comfort or discomfort of the abode had had little to do with her giving the money.
“Of course the cottage is not comfortable, for the man Blunt is notoriously given to drinking,” said Mr. Trevor, “and doubtless your half-crown is already turned into gin. You must really exert your common sense in visiting my tenants, my dear child,” he continued in a tone of vexation, “or you will do incalculable mischief where you intend to do good.”