Jem promised to see to that; and then Meg propounded the question which had been burning on her lips all yesterday, only she could not get courage to bring it out.
"Jem," she began.
"Well, little woman?"
"Jem—should you very much mind if I were to earn something?"
Jem looked astonished, and then a cloud came over the brightness of his face. Did his little woman already begin to miss some of the things she had been accustomed to at the Hall?
"Why, dear?" he asked soberly.
"Because—at least—Jem—your mother said—if I helped her she should pay me!"
"And you did not like that?" asked Jem, looking relieved, but puzzled.
"I suppose I did not. I think I should like to help her for nothing—out of love to you, Jem, and by-and-by out of love to her."
"Yes, dear, so should I; but I see what mother feels. If she has more work than she can do alone, she would have to pay some one else, and would a deal rather the money went into your pocket. She would not be right to earn money at your expense."