"Can't you fetch him here?" asked Meg.
Jem looked up.
"Meg! could we—now? You and me was talkin' of it this mornin'. They'll be orphans to-morrow."
Meg smiled a weak sweet smile as she looked towards the cot.
"Bring him if you can," she answered, "and Cherry too."
Mrs. Seymour could hardly follow the course of their thoughts, for she knew so little of what had gone before, and when Jem rose up and left the house for the second time, she was too astonished to protest.
This time he was gone longer than before, and Meg ate what her mother brought, and dozed quietly.
After some time his step was again heard, and he came quickly up.
Meg's eyes opened, and she listened intently. Yes, that was his step, and after it surely, surely, there was the halting one of poor little Cherry.
Jem opened the door and came softly in.