She found the young woman at her wash-tub.
"May I come in and visit you?" asked Jill meekly.
"Come in and welcome, miss. I think you be one of the little ladies belongin' to Miss Baron?"
"Yes, I am," said Jill, seating herself on a low stool with a sigh of relief. "I'm glad you will let me come in. Old Mrs. Jonas wouldn't!"
"That old cat! Why, miss! you be never tryin' to visit her?"
"I'm visiting all the widows I can find to-day," said Jill solemnly. "The Bible tells me to."
Young Mrs. Drake put her apron to her eyes.
"Aye, dearie me! My poor, dear husban'! To think that I be called a widder along wi' that old good-for-nothin' Mrs. Jonas! Oh, 'tis a cruel, wicked world, and hard on me that has allays done me duty an' attended church reg'lar!"
"Don't cry, please," said Jill, only dimly understanding the drift of her words. "You can't help being a widow, you know. That's why I've come to see you. And I've come to see your children too, because it says the 'fatherless!'——"
But at this Mrs. Drake began to sob afresh, and so violently that Jill felt quite alarmed.