"Father 'll have to take something else—" take it to the pawnbroker's, she meant. "The baker says he don't know how he's to go on giving credit, for there's no knowing where it'll end. And I don't know how we'll ever be able to pay what we owe him now!"
Hundreds of other families were more or less in the same condition; yet the men talked still of holding out.
"Just a little longer," Pope told them, "and they would have everything their own way."
"Father's coming!" Millie said, as a step was heard; and little Harry lifted his heavy head, only to lay it down again.
Stevens came in with a moody air, and took a seat. He looked thinner himself under the pressure of want.
"We've nothing left in the house," Martha said; "and the children's craving and crying till I don't know how to bear myself."
Stevens drew a small loaf—twopenny size—from his pocket, and tossed it on the table. "That's all I've got," he said; "and I didn't expect to have so much."
"Where did you get it from?" Martha asked, taking it in hand to respond to the little ones' eager eyes.
"Met Holdfast," 'said Roger gruffly.
"And he gave it you?"