Had the woman been cold or angry, that brave boy would have faced both without a tear; but now, sudden moisture sparkled in his eyes, and he winked his long, black lashes over and over again to break it up while he was speaking.
“We haven’t traded here lately, Mrs. Smith, because we had no money, and your husband got tired of trusting.”
“Who told you so?”
“He did.”
“Then he—— Well, he’s one of the best fellows that ever lived. Does it all for the sake of me and the children—you must understand that, youngster. He’s generous as the day, is my husband. Now what is it you want just at present?”
“Mrs. Smith, we haven’t had anything to eat in our house these three days.”
The boy’s voice broke as he said this, and tears fell from the eyes he lifted to that woman’s face, whose kindness he could only see through a mist.
“Not had anything to eat in three days, and I here! Oh, Jimmy Laurence! what were you all thinking about? It’s too bad, there!”
Mrs. Smith drew a plump arm across her eyes as she spoke, then seizing the lad by both hands, she fell to kissing him over the counter, then gave him a box on the ear, and pushed him away.
“Why didn’t you come to me? Why didn’t your mother just step over and tell me about it? Business is business, but this—— I’ve no patience with you, Jimmy Laurence, nor none of your tribe.”