"Ah! no," answered Meg.
He sat down to the table, and after he had asked a blessing they began their meal; but Jem was unusually preoccupied.
Meg was not an old enough wife to understand all her husband's moods, and supposed he was tired with his day's work.
"Meg," he said suddenly, "I suppose we haven't such a thing as an old blanket?"
Meg looked rather astonished.
"Why, you know, Jem, as everything nearly is new what you got ready for our home."
"Yes," said Jem, "yes, I know. I wonder how we could do?"
"What is it for?" asked Meg.
"Why, my girl, my heart's just achin' at a little feller I saw there in a attic. He's been lyin', his sister told me, ever since the first week in May, and he's like a skeleton. She don't seem to have much to give him, nor to live on herself neither, and he's got nothing on him but an old shawl, and the girl says as he's awful cold of nights. It's a frightful draughty place."
Meg's happy eyes filled with tears.